Adnan Yaqoob
Islamabad: Japan has extended a grant aid of 2,910 million Japanese Yen to Pakistan for the Project for the Improvement of Child Health Care Facilities in South Punjab. Notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan and Mr. Muhammad Humair Karim, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, in Islamabad on January 13th, 2026. Subsequently, Grant Agreement was also signed and exchanged between Mr. MIYATA Naoaki, Chief Representative of JICA Pakistan Office and Mr. Miran Mohiyuddin Soomro, Senior. Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
In this project, a new child health care facility will be constructed at Children Hospital Multan which is a public medical institution serving as the regional hub hospital in Multan district. The new facility will have the departments of Emergency, Pediatric ICU, Neonatal ICU, Surgery and Laboratory.
The objective of the project is to strengthen the diagnostic and treatment systems in the Children’s Hospital and the Institute of Child Health Multan. This project also seeks to improve its function as a specialized tertiary care hospital and a disaster response hub hospital in the region through the expansion of the facility and the provision of medical equipment. These improvements are necessary to provide the healthcare services for high-risk neonates, infants and children with serious illness or injuries. This project will contribute to improving the quality of healthcare services for children in south Punjab and neighboring provinces.
H.E. Mr. AKAMATSU Shuichi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan said: Today’s signing marks an important step in our continued cooperation to improve the quality of health services for children in Pakistan. I am confident that this project will make a significant contribution to pediatric health care in South Punjab and beyond.”
Mr. MIYATA Naoaki, Chief Representative of JICA Pakistan Office said: “This project will help in achieving the targets of sustainable development goals by reducing the infant mortality rates and raising the standard of pediatric emergency care”.
This project will also serve as a center of excellence meeting the requirement of a modern teaching hospital with international standards. It will not only alleviate the pressure of tertiary hospitals in other surrounding cities but also open up opportunities for families from all over southern part of Punjab, with improved accessibility and better chances of saving lives.
