ISLAMABAD: Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday to discuss Facebook’s investments in Pakistan, the company’s support for digital literacy initiatives in the country and its work around COVID-19.

The prime minister welcomed Facebook’s investments and programs in Pakistan and encouraged them to increase their footprint.

He recognized the immense potential of digital platforms like Facebook and the role that they can play in giving global opportunities to Pakistani youth and entrepreneurs and how the opportunities they create can lift people out of poverty.

Prime Minister Imran also raised concerns around the global rise in hate and extremism and acknowledged the immense challenge of fighting hate speech online.

The two discussed Facebook’s connectivity investments and research grants that were awarded this year to Pakistan-based academics.

Other topics included Facebook’s blood donations product which has seen more than 5 million people sign up since it launched in-country, as well as Facebook’s support for the government’s goal of a polio-free Pakistan.

Imran Khan and Sandberg also spoke about Facebook’s SheMeansBusiness Program which is training some 6,700 women across Pakistan.

Sandberg and PM Imran Khan last met in Davos, Switzerland, in January this year.