The Gates Foundation plans to reach around 170,000 women and 450,000 children in Pakistan this year through a program that combines cash support, nutrition assistance, livelihoods training and access to citizen facilitation centers.
The plan was discussed during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and a high-level Gates Foundation delegation led by Dr. Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division, at the Finance Division.
Gates Foundation Expands Work in Pakistan
The foundation said its engagement in Pakistan is expanding across several areas. These include human capital, child health, nutrition, maternal health and women’s economic participation.
In South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the program combines cash transfers, nutrition support, livelihoods training and access to citizen facilitation centers for women.
The initiative is expected to reach around 170,000 women and 450,000 children this year.
Focus on Nutrition and Child Health
The foundation also highlighted nationwide nutrition efforts through UNICEF’s “Livelihood 2.0” facility.
The program aims to improve access to nutrition commodities and help address childhood stunting.
Moreover, Dr. Zaidi briefed the minister on the foundation’s maternal health initiatives and the use of artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes.
The LUMS AI Hub is working with provincial governments to develop personalized solutions for women and families during pregnancy and delivery.
AI Tools for Women and Families
The foundation is also exploring AI tools that can operate in low-connectivity areas and on basic Android devices.
These solutions could also include local-language capabilities, potentially making digital health services more accessible to families.
Population Growth Also Discussed
The meeting also covered population growth and its impact on maternal and child health, nutrition, poverty and girls’ education.
Aurangzeb briefed the delegation on the National Population Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister.
He stressed the need for stronger federal-provincial coordination. He also highlighted women’s education and empowerment, higher workforce participation and birth spacing.
Government Highlights Economic Reforms
The finance minister also discussed the government’s economic reform agenda.
The agenda includes privatization, expenditure reforms, rightsizing and greater use of digital technology to improve government efficiency.
Aurangzeb highlighted efforts to expand access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agriculture and other underserved sectors.
The government plans to support these efforts through digital financial channels, improved data sharing and cash-flow-based lending.
Gates Foundation Shows Interest in SME Financing
The Gates Foundation expressed interest in supporting greater access to finance for SMEs.
Its focus includes improving information flows, strengthening digital footprints and expanding cash-flow-based lending.
The two sides also discussed agriculture, the digital economy and private-sector investment.
Aurangzeb highlighted growing interest in private equity and government efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s private equity ecosystem.
He also discussed efforts to attract long-term domestic and international investment.
Pakistan and Gates Foundation Agree to Deepen Cooperation
Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in several areas.
These include human capital, health, financial inclusion and digital innovation.
The expanded cooperation aims to support women and children while also improving access to financial and digital opportunities across Pakistan.
