In a move to address the acute nursing staff shortage in Pakistan, where only five nurses serve every 10,000 people, Aga Khan University (AKU) has launched a joint programme in collaboration with the Government of Sindh to promote nursing education in the rural district of Tando Muhammad Khan.
The strategic public-private partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding signed today between AKU, the provincial health department and the District Commissioner’s Office. The agreement aims to increase access to high-quality nursing training in underserved areas of the province.
Under the terms of the new venture, both parties will support the delivery of a proposed Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme. The first intake of approximately 50 students set to benefit from the initiative is anticipated to enrol in 2027.
The initiative addresses a critical shortfall of healthcare professionals both locally and globally. According to the World Health Organization, the world is facing a deficit of nearly 6 million nurses, with the most significant gaps affecting low- and middle-income countries.
Pakistan’s nursing shortage is particularly pronounced in its rural and remote regions. By extending its decades of experience in high-quality nursing education to Tando Muhammad Khan, AKU seeks to strengthen Sindh’s nursing workforce and improve health outcomes for the local populace.
‘This collaboration marks an important step in addressing the health care access challenges in underserved districts of Sindh,’ stated Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Government of Sindh. ‘By investing in nursing education, we are strengthening our health systems and creating opportunities for local communities to access quality training and employment.’
Dr Salimah R. Walani, Dean of the AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan, commented on the agreement’s significance. ‘This historic initiative reflects our continued commitment to elevate the status and standards of the nursing profession in Pakistan,’ she said.
Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, remarked that the alliance represents a new model for cooperation. ‘This partnership represents an important step in reimagining how universities and governments can work together to strengthen Pakistan’s health system at scale,’ he noted.