Talks focus on health, human capital, financial inclusion, digital innovation and SME financing
Pakistan and the Gates Foundation have agreed to deepen cooperation in human capital, health, financial inclusion and digital innovation following discussions between Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb and a high-level delegation from the Foundation.
The delegation was led by Dr Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division, and Kalpana Kochhar, Interim President of the Global Policy and Advocacy Division.
The meeting covered Pakistan’s economic reform agenda, human capital development, health, financial inclusion, digital innovation and private-sector investment. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in areas aligned with the country’s development priorities.
Kochhar briefed the finance minister on the Gates Foundation’s expanding engagement in Pakistan, particularly in human capital, child and maternal health, nutrition and women’s economic participation.
She highlighted a programme in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa combining cash transfers, nutrition assistance and livelihoods training. The initiative is expected to benefit around 170,000 women and 450,000 children during the year.
Dr Zaidi briefed the minister on the Foundation’s maternal health initiatives and the use of artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes. She also highlighted projects involving the LUMS AI Hub and provincial governments aimed at developing digital health solutions tailored to local requirements.
The Gates Foundation welcomed progress in Pakistan’s financial sector and expressed interest in supporting SME financing through improved data, digital footprints and cash-flow-based lending. Discussions also covered agriculture, the digital economy, private-sector investment and efforts to strengthen the country’s private equity ecosystem.
Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb stressed the importance of federal-provincial coordination, women’s empowerment, workforce participation and birth spacing during the meeting.
He outlined the government’s broader economic reform programme, including privatisation, expenditure rationalisation, digitalisation and improved access to finance for SMEs and the agriculture sector through cash-flow-based lending.
The finance minister also highlighted efforts to strengthen revenue mobilisation through tax automation, enforcement and taxpayer facilitation.
Population growth and its implications for health, nutrition, poverty and girls’ education were also discussed during the meeting.
The engagement underscores the potential for greater collaboration between Pakistan and the Gates Foundation across social development and economic sectors, particularly through digital innovation, financial inclusion and targeted health initiatives.