LAHORE : Punjab Minister for Health & Population Khawaja Imran Nazir reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare systems and improving access to quality maternal, newborn and child health services across the province. He emphasised the importance of evidence-based policymaking, stronger community outreach and integrated healthcare interventions to ensure that no mother or child is left behind.
He expressed these views while addressing a joint Government-UNICEF Pakistan policy dialogue on maternal newborn child health and nutrition in Punjab at a local hotel on Wednesday.
The dialogue was convened by the Department of Health & Population, Punjab, in collaboration with UNICEF Pakistan to review the latest evidence on maternal and child health outcomes in Punjab and discuss coordinated policy actions to accelerate progress for women and children across the province. The dialogue brought together senior government officials, development partners, academia, civil society representatives and health experts. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Field Office Punjab, UNICEF Pakistan Ramiz Behbudov highlighted the importance of sustained investments in maternal and child health and nutrition, particularly for underserved and vulnerable communities. He noted that Punjab has made encouraging progress in key health indicators, including immunisation coverage and antenatal care, but emphasised that collective action and stronger partnerships remain essential to address persistent gaps in quality, equity and continuity of care. The policy dialogue also reviewed findings from the latest UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025 and focused on strengthening the continuum of care for mothers and children, enhancing financing and accountability mechanisms, and integrating nutrition, WASH and digital innovations into health services.
