KARACHI — Vice Chairperson of the Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), Jahanara Manzoor Wattoo, met with Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare, Dr. Azra Pechuho, to discuss collaborative efforts in improving healthcare services. The meeting, held in Dr. Pechuho's office, focused on Punjab’s “Aghosh Program” and “Nai Zindagi Program,” both designed to address critical health needs in vulnerable populations.  

Focus on Mothers and Newborns

Ms. Wattoo provided an overview of the Aghosh Program, a key initiative under PSPA’s Punjab Human Capital Investment Project. This program aims to enhance maternal and newborn health in underserved communities. The Sindh Health Minister expressed interest in the program and acknowledged its potential to address maternal and child health challenges across provinces.  

Support for Acid Attack Survivors

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the Nai Zindagi Program, which provides free treatment and care for acid attack victims at seven state-of-the-art burn centers in Punjab. Wattoo offered to extend these facilities to acid attack survivors from Sindh, emphasizing that victims could receive free treatment in South Punjab’s burn centers.  

Dr. Pechuho commended the Punjab government for its efforts to support acid attack victims and expressed her commitment to improving similar facilities in Sindh.  

Collaboration on Burn Centers 

Ms. Wattoo invited Dr. Pechuho and her team to visit Punjab’s modern burn centers to review their operations and facilities. Dr. Pechuho accepted the invitation and announced plans for her health team to meet with expert plastic surgeons in Punjab. She highlighted the Sindh government’s interest in establishing burn centers modeled after Punjab’s facilities in Sindh hospitals.  

Strengthening Provincial Cooperation  

This meeting marked a significant step toward strengthening inter-provincial collaboration in the health sector. Both leaders expressed optimism about continued cooperation to improve healthcare services for vulnerable communities, paving the way for more robust healthcare networks across the provinces.  

With initiatives like the Aghosh and Nai Zindagi programs setting a precedent, the partnership between Punjab and Sindh demonstrates a shared commitment to addressing critical health challenges in Pakistan.