Islamabad: Pakistan and Japan have signed an agreement amounting to $18.62 million to enhance children's healthcare facilities in South Punjab. The signing ceremony, under the project titled "Improvement of Child Health Care Facilities in South Punjab," took place at the Ministry of Economic Affairs in Islamabad.

According to Radio Pakistan, the documents were signed and exchanged by Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Muhammad Humair Karim and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Akamatsu Shuichi on behalf of their respective governments. The Government of Japan has approved the funding through JICA under the Japanese Grant-in-Aid.

The project aims to strengthen diagnostic and treatment systems at the Children Hospital and The Institute of Child Health Multan. It seeks to improve the facility's function as the only specialized tertiary care hospital in the region by expanding the facility and providing essential medical equipment for high-risk neonates, infants, and children with serious illnesses or injuries.

The initiative will significantly contribute to enhancing the quality of healthcare services for children in southern Punjab and nearby provinces. Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi expressed Japan's commitment to working closely with Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral cooperation and friendly ties.