ISLAMABAD: A high-level delegation from the Gates Foundation on Tuesday visited the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), where Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Programme reiterated its resolve to achieve the Roadmap to Zero Polio 2026.

According to an official statement, Ms Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio, welcomed the delegation comprising Chris Elias, President of Global Development, and Kathy Neuzil, Director of Polio at the Gates Foundation.

Ms Farooq congratulated Dr Neuzil on her recent appointment and acknowledged her extensive experience and long-standing contributions to polio eradication efforts in Pakistan, as well as to broader health outcomes.

Addressing the delegation, Ms Farooq said that with strong government leadership and the continued support of partners such as the Gates Foundation, Pakistan was moving decisively toward the goal of zero polio.

During the visit, the delegation was briefed in the NEOC control room on the latest surveillance updates by NEOC Coordinator Muhammad Anwarul Haq.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme reaffirmed its commitment to the Roadmap to Zero Polio 2026 and expressed gratitude to the Gates Foun­dation and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) for their sustained support in the fight against polio.

The visit underscored the continued collaboration between Pakistan and international partners to eliminate polio and advance toward a polio-free Pakistan and a polio-free world.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2026