Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Aga Khan University Jointly Hold a “Seminar on Health Education, Research and Policy in Pakistan”
The Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS)-Islamabad and The Aga Khan University (AKU)-Karachi jointly organized a Hybrid Seminar on Health Education, Research and Policy in Pakistan at Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), Islamabad on Monday, 19 January, 2026. The event was organized in collaboration with stakeholders for improving collaboration to promote health sciences education and research, and contribute to developing a regulatory framework for National Health Plan.
Over 85 scientists, academicians, scholars, medical practitioners, pharmacologists, and policy makers from various universities and research organizations in Pakistan attended the event physically; while over 42 researchers attended the event online. In his opening address, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Wasay (Prof. AKU & Fellow, Pakistan Academy of Sciences) underscored the distinctive challenges confronting Pakistani population in the domain of health and life sciences and the urgent need to address these challenges through integrated and innovative approaches to ensure sustainable resource management and security of resources in the Country. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Baig, Secretary General PAS, highlighted the role of Pakistan Academy of Sciences in providing a unique platform to scientists, academicians and postgraduate researchers in the country to deliberate on matters related to various disciplines of S&T for socioeconomic development in the Country. He also highlighted the recent creation of a Scientific Advice to Government Unit (Policy Unit) at the Academy to review and upgrade the existing policy documents of the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Other speakers related to the theme of the Seminar included Major General Amer Ikram, Former Executive Director, NIH; Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Manan Haider Khan, Associate Prof, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University & Member Allied Health Council, Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Ayesha Rauf, National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Vice Chancellor, Shifa University, Dr. Obaidullah Khan, Senior Researcher, PHRI; Prof. Dr. M. Aslam Baig, Secretary General, PAS; and Prof. Dr. Anwar ul Hassan Gilani, Fellow PAS & WHO Advisor. In his address, the Co-Chair of the Seminar, Prof. Zia-ul-Haq, Executive Director, Higher Education Commission (HEC) emphasized research, training and as well as national and international collaboration based on his experience at Khyber Medical University. The event was concluded with the address by the Chief Guest of the occasion, Mr. Muhammad Aslam Ghauri, Special Secretary, Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan. In his address, he emphasized on the need to work with all stakeholders to achieve SDGs by the year 2030. Active and meaningful collaboration between Academia, regulators, researchers and the Ministry is quite essential. He appreciated the role of PAS in creating a collaboration platform for the mutual benefit of national and international researchers, professionals, scientists and academia. It is expected that this Seminar is expected to provide national experts, academicians, researchers, policy makers, and industrialists a unique opportunity to disseminate knowledge and deliberate upon holistic solutions to define a roadmap for the future of Health in Pakistan.
