KARACHI: Aga Khan University (AKU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Sindh to support nursing education in Tando Muhammad Khan, in collaboration with the provincial health department and the district administration. Under the agreement, the first cohort of approximately 50 students is expected to be enrolled in 2027.
The initiative represents a strategic public–private partnership aimed at expanding access to quality nursing education in rural Sindh through the introduction of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme. The collaboration seeks to address the growing demand for trained nursing professionals and strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved areas.
According to the World Health Organization, there is a global shortage of nearly six million nurses, with the most significant gaps in low- and middle-income countries. Pakistan also faces a severe shortage, with only five nurses available per 10,000 people, particularly in rural and remote regions.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Salimah R. Walani, Dean of the AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery, said the initiative reflects the university’s commitment to raising the standards and status of the nursing profession in Pakistan.
Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho termed the collaboration an important step towards addressing healthcare access challenges in underserved districts, adding that investment in nursing education would strengthen the health system and create employment opportunities for local communities.
President AKU Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin said the partnership demonstrates how universities and governments can work together to improve Pakistan’s healthcare system at scale.
