Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Reaffirms Polio Eradication Commitment, Pushes Trade Reforms

ISLAMABAD, September 11, 2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to completely eradicating polio while emphasizing the government's broader focus on strengthening healthcare, improving financial inclusion and accelerating economic reforms aimed at facilitating trade, reducing business costs and expanding Pakistan's integration with regional and global markets.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed these views during a meeting on Thursday with a Gates Foundation delegation that included Kalpana Kochhar and Anita Zaidi, during which he highlighted the government's strong institutional support for the national polio eradication programme and appreciated the foundation's continued partnership in healthcare, nutrition, financial inclusion and initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable communities, according to a Prime Minister's Office statement carried by APP.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan remained committed to achieving the shared objective of a polio-free country, while acknowledging the important contribution of the Gates Foundation toward strengthening efforts in disease prevention and public health. He also identified digital payments, food security, maternal and newborn health, poverty reduction and climate change as important areas within the government's wider governance reform agenda.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further emphasized that the transition toward a cashless economy forms an important component of the government's transformation programme, with the objective of making financial transactions more accessible, improving transparency and ensuring that public funds reach deserving beneficiaries in a secure, timely and efficient manner. He expressed a desire to expand cooperation with the Gates Foundation on initiatives designed to strengthen women's financial inclusion and economic empowerment, particularly by ensuring that financial assistance reaches deserving women directly and with dignity.

Separate Meeting on Trade Facilitation

Separately, while chairing the first meeting of the Trade Facilitation Board in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed relevant institutions to take effective measures to eliminate unnecessary delays in trade procedures, reduce the cost of doing business and create a more efficient environment for exporters and businesses. He said facilitating trade and connecting Pakistan more effectively with regional and global supply chains remained among the government's key economic priorities.

The Prime Minister directed authorities to establish one-window arrangements at major ports, promote joint inspections and profiling by relevant agencies, and conduct a comprehensive review of non-tariff measures to identify and remove unnecessary barriers affecting trade. He also called for efforts to attract direct shipping lines to Pakistani ports, noting that improved maritime connectivity could help reduce delivery times and strengthen links between Pakistani producers and international buyers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also approved the development of a National Trade Performance Index covering indicators such as cargo dwell time, customs clearance, logistics efficiency, ship clearance and pre- and post-clearance procedures, while directing authorities to strengthen risk-management systems so that detailed inspections remain focused primarily on high-risk consignments.

The meeting was informed of targets under the Time Release Automated System, including achieving 30 percent pre-arrival clearance by the end of the current financial year and increasing the green channel share to 65 percent, while the number of Authorized Economic Operators is expected to exceed 50.

The Prime Minister approved these targets and ordered the formation of a working group to review non-tariff measures and submit, within one month, a roadmap for eliminating unnecessary regulations and further streamlining Pakistan's trade processes.