Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) was awarded a major multi-year grant from the Gates Foundation on Wednesday to establish Pakistan’s first nationally coordinated Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hub.

A press release issued today said the initiative would initially focus on maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), one of the country’s most urgent public health priorities, while being designed as a long-term platform to address other critical development challenges

The National AI Hub brings together LUMS and Aga Khan University (AKU) to address maternal, newborn, and child health challenges. The press release said LUMS would leverage its expertise in AI, language technologies, gender and technology research, and digital public health innovation while AKU would provide technical and clinical support, contribute to maternal health datasets, and assist with field testing of AI-enabled interventions across diverse care settings.

The hub aims to develop AI-driven healthcare solutions for underserved populations, using predictive analytics to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and continuity of care. It will also convene government partners, clinicians, AI researchers, policymakers, and innovators to improve decision-making, referral pathways, and care for women and newborns nationwide.

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“This is a milestone moment for both LUMS and Pakistan,” said Dr Maryam Mustafa, associate professor of computer science at LUMS.

“We are launching this hub with maternal, newborn, and child health because this is where the need is most urgent and the opportunity for immediate impact is greatest. At the same time, our vision is to build a nationally anchored, responsible AI platform, one that can grow over time to support multiple sectors where data-driven intelligence can strengthen public systems and improve lives across the country.”

The initiative builds on a previous grant led by Dr Mustafa which showed how voice technology and multilingual tools could support frontline health workers and improve care continuity in low-resource settings.

Pakistan faces some of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the region, with maternal mortality at 186 deaths per 100,000 live births. Contributing factors include limited access to quality care, shortages of skilled health workers, weak referral systems, and delays in managing complications, compounded by language, literacy, and socioeconomic barriers.

The AI Hub will deploy evidence-based, locally relevant AI tools to address these gaps, including risk prediction and decision-support systems, multilingual interfaces, and strengthened referral and follow-up mechanisms. The platform is designed to move beyond pilot projects by integrating AI tools into national care pathways for sustainable impact.

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Beyond MNCH, the hub is envisioned as a national platform for responsible AI innovation aligned with public-interest priorities. It will support Pakistan’s AI ecosystem through capacity building, policy development, AI governance, and support for startups, while advancing commitments under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

With this investment, Pakistan joins a select group of countries building nationally coordinated AI platforms to address maternal, newborn, and child health, while laying the groundwork for broader cross-sectoral impact.