RAIWIND, Monday, July 20, 2026 (WNP): The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has inaugurated a Mother and Child Healthcare Centre in Raiwind, Lahore, providing accessible primary healthcare services to approximately 15,000 people living in the surrounding communities.
Implemented within the framework of the Year of the Family, declared by the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye in 2025, the project aims to strengthen maternal and child health services while improving access to preventive and community-based healthcare for vulnerable families.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Lahore, Mehmet Eymen Şimşek, TİKA Pakistan Coordinator Saliha Tuna, President of FACES Pakistan Javaid William, President of Pehchaan Prof. Dr. Naeem Zafar, as well as local leaders and members of the community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Consul General Mehmet Eymen Şimşek welcomed the progress Pakistan has made in reducing maternal and newborn mortality in recent years and emphasized that a healthy future can only be built upon healthy mothers and children.
Highlighting the longstanding brotherhood between Türkiye and Pakistan, he noted that Türkiye, through TİKA, will continue supporting development and healthcare initiatives that directly improve people’s lives.
In her remarks, TİKA Pakistan Coordinator Saliha Tuna underlined that the project reflects Türkiye’s people-centred approach to development cooperation.
Referring to the Year of the Family, she stated that investing in mothers, children and families means investing in the future of society. She also highlighted that the centre represents a sustainable partnership model, with TİKA establishing the facility, FACES Pakistan undertaking its management, and Pehchaan providing the healthcare professionals required for its operation.
President of FACES Pakistan Javaid William thanked TİKA for its support and stressed that the real owners of the project are the people of Raiwind, as the centre was designed to respond directly to the healthcare needs of the local community.
Unlike large hospitals that mainly provide specialized treatment, community-based primary healthcare centres serve as the first point of contact between families and the health system. In addition to basic medical services, they provide maternal and child follow-up, preventive healthcare, health education, counselling, early diagnosis and timely referrals when advanced treatment is needed.
Strategically located to maximize accessibility, the centre will serve an underserved catchment area where both Muslim and Christian communities live, ensuring that essential healthcare services are available close to home for families who need them most.
The centre itself also reflects a sustainable approach to development. Inspired by traditional local architecture, it was designed as a low-cost, environmentally friendly and climate-responsive facility, combining local building practices with modern healthcare requirements. The design offers a practical and replicable model for community healthcare infrastructure in underserved areas.
