Health Ministry Partners with LUMS National AI Hub to Advance Maternal and Child Health

LAHORE: The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (MoNHSRC) has signed an MoU with the National AI Hub, Pakistan’s first nationally coordinated AI Hub, established by Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The partnership will advance the responsible use of artificial intelligence in Pakistan’s health sector, with a particular focus on improving maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes.

The MoU provides a framework for collaboration in research, innovation, evidence generation, policy engagement, and capacity building in artificial intelligence for healthcare. Through this partnership, MoNHSRC and the National AI Hub will identify national priorities, support the development and evaluation of AI-enabled solutions, and promote the ethical and effective integration of AI into Pakistan’s health system.

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

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Federal Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, said, “This collaboration will play a pivotal role in improving maternal and child health services through the safe, responsible, and effective use of artificial intelligence.”

Dr. Jadoon further added, “This partnership creates an important opportunity to translate interdisciplinary research into meaningful public impact. LUMS is pleased to contribute its expertise in AI and data science to support stronger, more responsive health systems and better outcomes for mothers, newborns, and children across Pakistan.”

The partnership will support joint research, technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement, while contributing to policies and implementation strategies for the responsible use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. It will also bring together expertise from government, academia, healthcare institutions, industry, and development partners to strengthen national capacity.

As Pakistan advances its digital health agenda, this MoU marks an important step towards using artificial intelligence to build more resilient, efficient, and equitable health systems for mothers, newborns, and children.