Gates Foundation Delegation Visits Office of AI Punjab
LAHORE, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 8th Sep, 2026)
A delegation from the Gates Foundation visited the Office of AI Punjab here on Tuesday, engaging in detailed discussions about expanding long-term cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), technology, and development.
The delegation was led by Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, and Kalpana Kocher, Interim President of the Global Policy and Advocacy Division.
Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on AI and Special Initiatives, Ali Dar, welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of Punjab’s AI agenda, technology initiatives, and practical applications of artificial intelligence in the public sector. He expressed the Punjab government’s desire to expand existing cooperation with the Gates Foundation into a long-term, productive, and strategic partnership.
Dar highlighted the Awaaz-e-Sehat pilot project, which leverages AI for maternal and child healthcare, as an example of successful collaboration between the Office of AI and the Gates Foundation. He emphasized the Office of AI’s commitment to developing practical, effective, and scalable solutions to public sector challenges through AI and technology.
He noted that the global expertise and experience of the Gates Foundation would be valuable in enhancing public service delivery through artificial intelligence, aligned with Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s AI Vision 2029. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of AI and the National AI Hub, he said, would further strengthen this collaboration.
Dar concluded by stating that this partnership with the Gates Foundation holds great potential for innovation and joint initiatives in AI, healthcare, and technology, contributing to delivering better government services through partnerships with global organizations.
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir, AI Secretary Ahmad Rujwana, and other officials were present at the meeting.
