German experts would extend cooperation for the development of peadiatric surgery in Pakistan especially in Punjab. Collaboration would be extended to enhance the facilities of peads surgery in the hospitals and capacity building/training of the doctors. It was announced in a meeting between the four member German delegation headed by Prof. Claus Peterson and the Minister Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister Primary & Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir jointly, here today. Besides, Secretary SH&ME Najam Ahmed Shah, Secretary P&S Health Ali Jan Khan, DG Health Punjab Dr. Akhtar Rasheed Malik, Additional Secretaries (Technical) of both the Health Departments, Dr. Salman Shahid, Dr. Asim Altaf, Dean Children Hospital Prof. Dr. Masood Sadiq, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof. Dr. Qazi Saeed, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Medical University Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal, Prof. Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Prof. of Peads Surgery Children Hospital Prof. Dr. Saleem, Chief Executive Punjab Public Health Agency Dr. Shabnam Sarfraz, CEO Health Lahore Dr. Yadullah and other concerned officers attended the meeting. Prof. Shabnam Sarfraz, Prof. Saleem and Prof. Masood Sadiq briefed the German delegation regarding the available facilities of peadretic surgery in Pakistan particularly in the hospitals of Punjab. They were of the view that available facilities are not sufficient according to the population. They were also informed that there is a dearth of peads surgeons in Pakistan. Minister Primary & Secondary Health informed the delegation that government has desired to extend peadiatric treatment and surgical facilities in DHQ and THQ hospitals for which work has been started. Kh. Imran Nazir said that collaboration and technical assistance offered by the German experts would be a good omen for the promotion and development in the health sector through which new initiatives could be taken. Minister Specialized Healthcare Kh. Salman Rafique welcomed the German collaboration for the capacity building and training of human resource and strengthening of peads surgery facilities in the public sector hospitals. Secretary Health Najam Ahmed Shah was of the view that collaboration between German experts and Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department would be very beneficial for the local experts in their training capacity building and introduction to the new technology. Najam Ahmed Shah further said that as a result of initiatives taken by the Specialized Healthcare Department, doctors are coming for specialization in such specialties which were previously ignored badly. During the stay in Lahore the German delegation would visit Children Hospital Lahore, District Headquarters Hospital Sheikhupura, moreover they will hold meetings with Vice Chancellors of Medical Universities and high-ups of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan after that a future strategy and way forward would be finalized