President Zardari Calls for Absorption of Research & Development, Smart Solutions to Drive Infrastructure Overhaul and Improved Public-Centric Services
By Qurban Ali Khushik
Berlin: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for the adoption of research-based, technology-driven solutions to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure, emphasising the need for affordable, high-quality and accessible medical services for all citizens.
The President made these remarks during a meeting with a delegation of Siemens Health executives in Berlin on Saturday. Siemens Executive Vice President Daniel Frisch and Veronika Pfister, Head of Siemens Government Affairs, called on the President to discuss enhanced technological cooperation and investment opportunities in Pakistan.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, Sindh Provincial Ministers Sharjeel Memon and Jam Khan Shoro, and Pakistan’s Ambassador to Germany Salman Sharif were also present at the meeting.
President Zardari said Pakistan highly valued Germany’s industrial, technological and infrastructural support, particularly through organisations such as Siemens, which has maintained a longstanding presence in Pakistan, employing more than 100 people across three major cities, including Karachi.
The Siemens delegation informed the President that company representatives would soon visit Pakistan to sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with local partners in the areas of capacity building and technological advancement in the healthcare sector. The delegation also highlighted the company’s technological cooperation in addressing cancer, stroke and other diseases.
President Zardari welcomed the renewed commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Germany, noting that the shared desire to strengthen and broaden the partnership had been reaffirmed during his meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier a day earlier.
Emphasising the importance of inclusive healthcare, President Zardari said affordable, qualified and standardised medical services were essential to enabling every citizen to realise their full potential. He added that the government sought to broaden access to quality healthcare, particularly for underprivileged communities living in remote areas.
During the meeting, Siemens Executive Vice President Daniel Frisch acknowledged the positive developments resulting from the Sindh Health Department’s coordinated initiatives. He also briefed the President on the company’s achievements and contributions in Pakistan and expressed Siemens’ willingness to expand its support through innovative solutions and advanced technological applications to strengthen the country’s existing healthcare infrastructure.
President Zardari welcomed Siemens’ interest in deepening its engagement in Pakistan and encouraged the company to diversify its investments into other social and industrial sectors, drawing on its internationally established expertise.
He assured the delegation of full institutional cooperation in this regard through the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which serves as a platform to facilitate investment and strengthen engagement with international partners.
