Liaison with Professional Organisations

Aga Khan University School of Nursing (AKU-SON) has worked with the Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC),a regulatory body, Pakistan Nursing Federation (PNF), a professional body, Provincial Nursing Examination Boards, other schools of nursing and various health service institutions throughout Pakistan to improve nursing education and professional standards in the country. Currently AKU-SON faculty are assuming leadership roles chairing subcommittees of PNC and PNF such as Academic Council Committee, Curriculum Committee and the National Education Committee. Over the years, AKU-SON has consistently provided examiners and consultants for the Sindh Nurses Examination Board to develop and strengthen the examination system.

Major highlights of AKU-SON's contribution include:

• Assisted in development of curriculum of post basic courses at a college of nursing under the World Bank's Family Health Project.;
• Facilitated the inclusion and development of Community Health Nursing and Mental Health Nursing subjects in the PNC Diploma curriculum;
• Advocated changes in PNC regulations for Diploma Programme so that married women became eligible to apply, age limits were relaxed from 16-35 years to 40 years in some cases. Day scholars were permitted to enrol and hostel accommodation is no longer a requirement.