QUETTA: In a major step towards digitizing public healthcare, the Government of Balochistan and the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI) for improving maternal, newborn, and child health in the province.

On the directives of Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Secretary Health Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and LUMS Provost and Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr. Tariq Jadoon signed the agreement. The collaboration aims to promote the use of AI in public health, specifically targeting the high mortality rates in underserved areas.

Under the partnership, the technical and research expertise of a new National AI Hub being established at LUMS will be utilized. The initiative is backed by a multi-year grant from the Gates Foundation to create Pakistan’s first nationally integrated AI hub. Leveraging this facility, AI-based medical and informational modules will be tailored to Balochistan’s unique geographical, social, and linguistic landscape.

A key component of the project is the development of advanced digital modules and support tools in Balochistan’s local languages, including Balochi, Brahvi, and Pashto. These tools are designed to equip frontline health workers ; Lady Health Workers, nurses, midwives, and traditional birth attendants (Dais);with timely, authentic, and easy-to-understand information. By enabling effective communication in native languages, the AI tools will improve health awareness among pregnant women and mothers, facilitate early recognition of danger signs, provide appropriate guidance, and streamline referrals to health centers.

This collaboration is expected to break down critical barriers posed by language and distance in Balochistan’s remote and low-resource areas, where access to quality health information remains severely limited. Before field deployment, all AI modules will undergo rigorous medical, technical, linguistic, and ethical scrutiny under the supervision of the Health Department’s experts.

Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary Health Balochistan Mujeeb-ur-Rehman stated that the government is committed to responsibly utilizing digital technology and AI to enhance service delivery. "The development of AI tools in local languages will increase the efficiency of health workers and improve the reach of quality information and guidance to remote populations," he said.

Dr. Tariq Jadoon of LUMS called the partnership a promising opportunity. "Through the National AI Hub, we are deploying capabilities in computer science, AI, and machine learning to take practical steps for improving public health. LUMS is pleased to play a role in this critical work," he added.

The signing ceremony was attended by key provincial health officials, including Provincial Coordinator Dr. Ababgar Baloch, Chief Coordinator Health Sector Reforms Unit Dr. Shako Mengal, Director Technical Dr. Dawood Achakzai, WHO Balochistan Head Dr. Esfandiyar Sherani, Provincial TB Coordinator Sher Afghan Raisani, and UNICEF Balochistan Chief of Field Office Fitsum Asfa, alongside representatives from the LUMS National AI Hub.

The MoU has been hailed as a significant milestone in modernizing maternal and child health services in Balochistan through digital health and local language medical guidance.