ISLAMABAD: Afghan Health Professionals (AHP), who underwent a 12-month training and capacity building programme at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have been awarded honorary certificates on Tuesday.
Foreign Affairs Special Secretary Aitzaz Ahmed was the chief guest at the certificate awarding ceremony while the event was also attended by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Embassy Counselor Sayed Abdul Nassir Yusufi.
PIMS Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Javed Akram speaking on the occasion, briefed the guests on various aspects of Pakistan funded ‘Afghan Health Professionals Training Project’ and expressed willingness to continue the program in the future.
Afghanistan’s embassy counsellor appreciated Pakistan’s assistance for the development and reconstruction of Afghanistan and hoped that cooperation between the two countries will continue not only in the health sector but also in other fields of mutual interest.
Addressing the ceremony, the special secretary said that Pakistan has extended training and capacity building courses to Afghan doctors, nurses and paramedics in order equip them to efficiently run the three hospitals built by Pakistan in the Afghan cities of Kabul, Jalalabad and Nangarhar.
In total 69 health professionals, were invited for training courses of various durations, out of which 59 have already completed their training and since assumed their responsibilities in the above-mentioned hospitals in Afghanistan.
Aitzaz Ahmed added that the government of Pakistan has committed US $1 billion as development assistance to Afghanistan and has undertaken multiple projects in the fields of education, health, and infrastructure, provision of scholarships, training and capacity building of Afghan professionals.
“In addition to hosting millions of our Afghan brethren for almost four decades, Pakistan is committed to constructively contribute to the institution building and development of Afghanistan,” concluded the special secretary.