Historic Grant from Gates Foundation Enables National AI Initiative
Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) has secured a multi-year grant from the Gates Foundation to establish Pakistan’s first nationally coordinated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub. This initiative will focus initially on Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH), one of the country’s most pressing public health priorities.
The Hub aims to become a long-term, national platform that will eventually expand to address other critical development challenges. It brings together leading academic and clinical expertise, combining AI innovation with public health solutions to improve healthcare delivery for underserved populations.
Collaboration Between LUMS and Aga Khan University
The National AI Hub unites two of Pakistan’s top research institutions: LUMS and Aga Khan University (AKU). LUMS will contribute its expertise in artificial intelligence, language technologies, digital public health, and gender-focused research. AKU will provide clinical knowledge, develop large maternal health datasets, and support the evaluation and field testing of AI-driven interventions.
Dr. Maryam Mustafa will lead the Hub, while Professor Fyezah Jehan will oversee clinical collaboration. The Hub will also engage government agencies, clinicians, AI researchers, and policymakers to strengthen early diagnosis, clinical decision-making, referral pathways, and continuity of care for women and newborns nationwide.
“This is a milestone moment for both LUMS and Pakistan,” said Dr. Mustafa. “Launching with maternal, newborn, and child health allows immediate impact, while our vision is to build a nationally anchored, responsible AI platform to support multiple sectors over time.”
AI Solutions for Maternal and Child Health
The Hub will deploy AI-driven tools tailored to Pakistan’s healthcare system. Predictive analytics, risk assessment, and decision-support systems will help frontline health workers identify pregnancy-related risks early and respond faster to complications. Speech-based and multilingual technologies will bridge literacy and language gaps, while AI-enabled referral systems will strengthen continuity of care.
The initiative builds on LUMS’ previous Grand Challenges project, Awaaz-e-Sehat, which used voice-enabled electronic record management to support maternal health in low-resource settings. Mubarik Imam, advisory board member at LUMS’ SBASSE, highlighted that AI can democratize world-class medical knowledge across the country, from remote regions like Astore to Ziarat.
Pakistan faces high maternal and neonatal mortality, with 186 deaths per 100,000 live births. Limited access to skilled care, fragmented data systems, and delays in managing complications like hemorrhage and eclampsia remain major challenges. The AI Hub is designed to integrate solutions directly into national health systems to deliver sustainable, large-scale impact.
Towards a National Platform for Responsible AI
While MNCH is the initial focus, the Hub is envisioned as a national platform for AI innovation across sectors. It will strengthen Pakistan’s AI ecosystem through capacity building, policy development, AI governance, and support for startups. The initiative aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, particularly in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Pakistan now joins a select group of countries creating nationally coordinated AI platforms. The Hub lays the foundation for scalable, evidence-based interventions that can improve public systems and healthcare delivery across the country.
