The National AI Hub for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) at LUMS welcomed a high-level delegation from the Gates Foundation on 7 September 2026 for an engagement focused on advancing artificial intelligence for maternal, newborn, and child health in Pakistan.

The Gates Foundation delegation comprised Dr. Anita Zaidi, President, Gender Equality; Dr. Kalpana Kochhar, Interim President, Global Policy and Advocacy; Jamal Khan, Deputy Director, Government Relations, South and Southeast Asia, Global Policy and Advocacy, Office of the President; Aisha Salman, Program Officer, Gender Equality, Office of the President; Dr. Ammar Malik, Program Officer, Development Policy and Finance, Global Policy and Advocacy, Office of the President; Zeina Sifri, Senior Program Officer, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Gender Equality; Mustafa Bajwa, Senior Program Officer, Family Planning, Gender Equality; Syed Ali Mahmood, Senior Program Officer, Inclusive Financial Services, Global Development; and Amy Penington, Senior Program Officer, Women’s Economic Empowerment, Gender Equality, Office of the President.

Representing LUMS, the delegation was welcomed by Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector; Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost and Acting Vice Chancellor; and Dr. Maryam Mustafa, Director and Principal Investigator of the National AI Hub for MNCH.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the Hub’s work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, public health, and health-system strengthening, and to discuss opportunities for collaboration in developing responsible, evidence-driven AI solutions. The engagement highlighted the importance of partnerships between academia and global development organisations in translating AI innovation into meaningful and equitable improvements in health outcomes for women, newborns, and children across Pakistan.

The Office of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Punjab and the National AI Hub for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) at LUMS formalised a partnership to advance the application of responsible artificial intelligence to public-sector health priorities and healthcare delivery in Punjab.

The signing brought together Khawaja Imran Nazir, Minister for Health and Population; Ali Dar, Advisor to the Chief Minister on AI and Special Initiatives; Ahmad Rajwana, Secretary, Office of AI Punjab; Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost and Acting Vice Chancellor of LUMS; and Dr. Maryam Mustafa, Director and Principal Investigator of the National AI Hub for MNCH. Dr. Anita Zaidi and Dr. Kalpana Kochhar of the Gates Foundation also attended the occasion.

The collaboration will connect Punjab's emerging provincial AI agenda with LUMS's research and implementation expertise, with a focus on exploring practical applications of AI that can strengthen health-system decision-making, support healthcare providers, and improve public-sector service delivery. The partnership represents an opportunity to align technological innovation with provincial priorities and advance contextually appropriate, evidence-informed approaches to healthcare.

The Government of Sindh, the National AI Hub for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) at LUMS, and Aga Khan University (AKU) formalised a partnership to advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence in maternal and child healthcare. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the office of Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, by Health Secretary Tahir Hussain, Dr. Maryam Mustafa, Director and Principal Investigator of the National AI Hub at LUMS, and Dr. Karim Damji, Dean of the Medical College at AKU. Dr. Anita Zaidi, President of Gender Equality at the Gates Foundation, which supports the Hub through a multi-year grant, and Dr. Zahra Hoodbhoy, Associate Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health at AKU, were also present.

Under the partnership, the three institutions will collaborate on the rollout of AI-enabled risk-stratification models, clinical decision-support systems, and voice-assisted tools to support frontline healthcare providers delivering maternal and child health services. By bringing together provincial health leadership, academic research, and technical expertise, the collaboration aims to strengthen the integration of responsible AI into Sindh's health system and improve the quality and accessibility of care for women and children.

The Government of Balochistan and the National AI Hub for MNCH at LUMS formalised a partnership to explore the responsible application of artificial intelligence to maternal, newborn, and child health priorities in the province. The MoU signing was accompanied by a workshop at LUMS, bringing together government representatives, health-sector stakeholders, and academic experts to discuss opportunities for AI-driven innovation and health-system strengthening.

Representing the Government of Balochistan were Mr. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, Secretary Health; Dr. Shahkoh Mengal, Chief, Health Sector Reforms Unit; Dr. Ababgar Baloch, PC-BHMIS/B-HISDU; Dr. Sher Afghan Raisani, PC, TB Control Program; Dr. M. Dawood, Director Technical, Department of Health; Dr. Asfandyar Sherani, Head of WHO Balochistan; Jahangir Bazai, Senior Consultant; Ahsan Azam, General Manager, Poverty Eradication Initiative; and Muhammad Imran, Manager Software, Poverty Eradication Initiative. Representing LUMS were Dr. Walther, Dr. Tariq Jadoon, and Dr. Maryam Mustafa, Director and Principal Investigator of the National AI Hub for MNCH.

The partnership aims to connect provincial health priorities with LUMS's expertise in artificial intelligence, computer science, and public health. Through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and exploration of context-specific applications, the initiative seeks to identify opportunities for responsible AI solutions that support healthcare providers, strengthen health-system decision-making, and improve services for women and children in Balochistan.

The National AI Hub for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) at LUMS formalised a partnership with the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) to advance the responsible application of artificial intelligence in healthcare in Pakistan.

Representing the Ministry at the signing were Mr. Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Federal Secretary, MoNHSRC; Dr. Shabana Saleem, Director General (Population); Dr. Rashida Batool, District Health Officer, ICT; Muhammad Ayub, District Population Welfare Officer, ICT; and Dr. Beenish, Deputy Director (Technical). LUMS was represented by Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Provost, and Dr. Agha Ali Raza, Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science. Mr. Naveed Akbar, Consultant at the Gates Foundation, was also present.

The partnership provides a framework for collaboration between government and academia to explore AI-enabled approaches to strengthening health systems, supporting evidence-informed decision-making, and improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes. It reflects a shared commitment to connecting technological innovation with national health priorities and developing solutions that respond to the needs of Pakistan's healthcare system.

The National AI Hub for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) at LUMS convened Pakistan’s first-of-its-kind AI × Health Convening, bringing together stakeholders from government, healthcare, academia, research, and the technology sector to explore how artificial intelligence can address critical health-system challenges.

The convening provided a platform for cross-sector dialogue on translating AI innovation into practical, responsible, and contextually relevant healthcare solutions. Discussions explored opportunities to strengthen health-system decision-making, support frontline healthcare providers, improve service delivery, and advance data-driven approaches to public health. By connecting policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and technology experts, the event sought to bridge the gap between emerging AI capabilities and the realities of healthcare delivery in Pakistan.

Marking an important step towards building a national ecosystem for AI in health, the convening underscored the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in shaping solutions that are ethical, evidence-informed, and responsive to local needs, with particular relevance to improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.