ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: Pakistan and Norway here on Friday signed Norway-Pakistan Partnership Initiative (NPPI) to provide better healthcare facilities to mother and newborn children.

Norwegian government would provide 50 million krone (about $50 million) each year for this five-year long programme which would be started in ten districts of Sindh.

The agreement was signed by Secretary, Economic Affairs Division, Farrakh Qayyum and Deputy Secretary General for Development Cooperation, Norway, Atle Leikvoll on behalf of their respective governments.

Ambassador of Norway, Robert Kvile and UN representative were also present on the occasion.

According to the agreement, the governments of Norway and Pakistan would engage in joint partnership and Norway-Pakistan Partnership Initiative to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality rates in Pakistan.

The NPPI will be implemented in ten rural districts of Sindh province which have been selected on the basis of high maternal and child mortality rates as well as inadequate health systems.

The initiative aims at reducing maternal and child mortality rates with about 40 per cent during the five year period for project implementation from 2009-13, through a variety of carefully selected interventions from a wide range of agencies.

The Norwegian support would be channeled through three UN agencies working together with the one UN programme mechanisms.

The initiative is in line with the global campaign for health millennium development goals, Farrukh Qayyum said adding that the initiative aims to support and develop Pakistan's health systems to deliver a set of integrated and affordable interventions to improve mother and child health.

Speaking on the occasion, Atle Leikvoll said that Norway and Pakistan would continue cooperation adding Norway was undertaking healthcare initiatives in a few countries, including Pakistan.—APP

Editorial

Ominous demands
Updated 18 May, 2024

Ominous demands

The federal government needs to boost its revenues to reduce future borrowing and pay back its existing debt.
Property leaks
18 May, 2024

Property leaks

THE leaked Dubai property data reported on by media organisations around the world earlier this week seems to have...
Heat warnings
18 May, 2024

Heat warnings

STARTING next week, the country must brace for brutal heatwaves. The NDMA warns of severe conditions with...
Dangerous law
Updated 17 May, 2024

Dangerous law

It must remember that the same law can be weaponised against it one day, just as Peca was when the PTI took power.
Uncalled for pressure
17 May, 2024

Uncalled for pressure

THE recent press conferences by Senators Faisal Vawda and Talal Chaudhry, where they demanded evidence from judges...
KP tussle
17 May, 2024

KP tussle

THE growing war of words between KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Governor Faisal Karim Kundi is affecting...