NEW YORK: A major development has taken place to promote medical education and healthcare workforce development in Pakistan and help meet the growing demand in the United States for trained nurses and other healthcare professionals.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being signed between the American Pakistan Education Foundation (APEF), a subsidiary organization of the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC), and the Pakistan Education Foundation (Pak-EEF).
APPAC Foundation President Dr Ijaz Ahmed and Pak-EEF Chief Executive Officer Syeda Hajra Sohail are scheduled to sign the MoU in New York.
According to documents obtained by Geo News, the proposed agreement will establish a comprehensive framework for cooperation between the APPAC Foundation and Pak-EEF. Under the framework, the two organizations will work to develop appropriate pathways for qualified healthcare professionals of Pakistani origin to access professional opportunities in the United States.
The cooperation will cover areas including education, professional preparation, training, certification and fulfillment of professional qualification requirements. The initiative will also seek to strengthen links and partnerships with healthcare and educational institutions in the United States.
The American Pakistan Education Foundation is a US-based nonprofit organization working in the fields of education, healthcare workforce development, professional capacity building and community-focused initiatives in both the United States and Pakistan.
The initiative to create professional opportunities in the United States for Pakistani nurses and other healthcare professionals was launched by APPAC with the support of New York State Assembly Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos.
As part of the initiative, members of the APPAC Board have visited Pakistan twice and held meetings with relevant stakeholders. During these visits, detailed discussions were held on healthcare workforce development, nursing and allied health education, professional training and other measures required to strengthen cooperation between institutions in Pakistan and the United States.
The delegation also examined opportunities to expand institutional cooperation between Pakistan and the United States.
Meanwhile, Pak-EEF has launched the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Nurse Placement Programme under an important government initiative. The program is designed to prepare Pakistani registered nurses to obtain international nursing licenses and pursue professional opportunities abroad.
According to Pak-EEF, a nationwide registration campaign was conducted under the program, attracting 2,759 applicants. Following a rigorous screening and selection process, 300 eligible nurses were selected for training.
More than 80 nurses have so far obtained their NCLEX licenses and are now prepared to provide services internationally, while more than 220 additional nurses are currently progressing through the examination process.
The program has also helped candidates facing financial difficulties prepare for and take the expensive international examination without having to travel abroad, significantly reducing the financial and logistical burden associated with the licensing process.
The new MoU being signed in New York will provide the APPAC Foundation with a framework to establish connections with hospitals, healthcare systems, nursing facilities, educational institutions, professional organizations and potential employers or partners in the United States interested in recruiting qualified healthcare professionals.
APPAC will also work with Pakistani and US institutions and relevant stakeholders to strengthen nursing and medical education, professional development of teachers, professional exchanges and healthcare workforce preparation.
The organizations will additionally explore opportunities for scholarships, educational assistance and training partnerships to support the professional development of Pakistani healthcare workers.
Pak-EEF, on the other hand, will identify and assist nurses and other healthcare professionals with suitable educational backgrounds and professional qualifications who are interested in pursuing further education, professional development and potential employment opportunities in the United States.
The organization will also provide support to candidates in professional preparation, examinations, certification, documentation and fulfillment of other necessary requirements.
Under the MoU, APPAC Foundation and Pak-EEF may work with universities, nursing schools, hospitals, training institutions, professional organizations and other stakeholders to develop educational programs or support existing programs for nurses and other healthcare professionals.
A joint working group is also expected to be established soon to oversee implementation of the MoU and facilitate further cooperation between APPAC and Pak-EEF.
The initiative could provide a structured pathway for qualified Pakistani nurses to meet international professional requirements and pursue opportunities in the US healthcare sector. At the same time, it could contribute to strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare workforce by expanding access to international training, certification and professional development.
Speaking to Geo News, Dr Ijaz Ahmed expressed his gratitude to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar and all those who had welcomed his delegation during its visits to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi three years ago.
He said those meetings had helped lay the foundation for a comprehensive framework of cooperation between New York, Punjab and Sindh.
Dr Ahmed also specifically thanked New York Assembly Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos, who had led the delegation and played an important role in advancing the initiative.
Former Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who met Phil Ramos in New York in April 2023 to explore the possibility of establishing “sister state” relations between New York, Punjab and Sindh, welcomed the latest development.
Tessori said that, unlike many other politicians, Phil Ramos was a person who remained committed to his promises, while Dr Ijaz Ahmed was a true patriot who was always ready to serve Pakistan.
“I am pleased that my meeting with him three years ago is now producing practical results,” Tessori said.
The proposed cooperation is expected to strengthen institutional links between Pakistan and the United States in healthcare education and workforce development while creating new professional pathways for qualified Pakistani nurses.
With more than 80 nurses already having obtained NCLEX licenses and hundreds of others undergoing preparation and examination, the initiative could provide a significant foundation for expanding the presence of Pakistani-trained healthcare professionals in the international labor market.
The MoU is therefore being viewed as an important step toward linking Pakistan’s medical and nursing workforce with professional opportunities in the United States while promoting education, training, certification and institutional cooperation between the two countries.
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