• PhD Public Health (University of Glasgow, UK), sponsored by Government of Pakistan. The thesis can be accessed online via this link: http://theses.gla.ac.uk/5519/
• Post Doctorate Public Health (Keele University, UK)
• Fellowship Faculty of Public Health (Royal Colleges of London, Edinburg & Glasgow, UK)
• Fellowship in Community Medicine (College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan)
• Diploma in Medical Education (Khyber Medical University)
• Master in Public Health [MPH] (Gandhara University, Pakistan)
• MBBS [Doctor of Medicine] (Khyber Medical College, University of Peshawar, Pakistan)

Biography

Dr. Zia Ul Haq serves as the youngest Vice Chancellor, Chief Executive, and Principal Accounting Officer of Khyber Medical University (KMU), one of the largest public medical universities in Pakistan. He is also the Pioneer Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Public Health & Social Sciences. KMU now spans 26 postgraduate institutes, 27 medical and dental colleges, and 210 nursing and allied health sciences institutes, educating over 74,000 students.

Dr. Zia is an accomplished educator and researcher, having supervised over 40 master’s and PhD students and published more than 110 research articles, garnering over 2,800 citations. His research has attracted over 6 billion PKR in funding from UN agencies and other organizations. A key proponent of the family practice approach to healthcare, he has fostered collaborations with the WHO, the Ministry of Health, and leading universities. His educational contributions have shaped thousands of students in medical and public health disciplines.

In recognition of his transformative leadership, Dr. Zia’s tenure was extended to March 2028. He was elected president of the Pakistan Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (PNQAHE) and has been instrumental in KMU’s expansion—from a single campus to 18 campuses across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with plans for an international campus in Kabul. Under his leadership, KMU achieved 100% self-reliance, up from 50%, and introduced a fully paperless operation, market-based salaries for staff, and third-party hiring for support staff.

Dr. Zia’s governance reforms have earned him national recognition, including a special award from the Government of KP in 2022. He has overseen the creation of a 250-bed hospital dedicated to non-communicable diseases, expanded medical student enrollment by 500 seats, and launched two new medical and dental colleges. In the past four years, KMU has secured record research funding, especially in public health, with revenue surpassing the university's entire budget.

As Dean of Public Health, Dr. Zia established the Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL KP) at KMU, with substantial support from federal and provincial governments and donors. The laboratory conducts 6,000 COVID-19 PCR tests daily and has played a pivotal role in COVID-19 testing and vaccination, becoming one of the largest vaccination centers in KP. Under his leadership, KMU has contributed significantly to public health research and policy, including pioneering surveys on gender-based violence and diabetes across Pakistan.

Dr. Zia is also a founding member of the Institute of Public Health, which offers a range of programs from BS Public Health to PhD in Public Health. He has expanded KMU’s academic offerings with the establishment of the Institute of Family Medicine and the Institute of Mental Health. Both institutes offer diplomas and degrees in family medicine, clinical psychology, and psychiatry. The Institute of Public Health & Social Sciences has secured funding from major international organizations, positioning it as a leading center for public health research and policy.

Through his collaborations with the WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and other international bodies, Dr. Zia has played a central role in shaping public health policy in Pakistan. He has spearheaded initiatives in environmental health, human resources for health, and infectious disease surveillance. His work with the ICRC has led to significant research on violence against healthcare workers, contributing to a bill now passed by the KP Assembly.

With a strong commitment to advancing healthcare education and research, Dr. Zia’s leadership continues to drive KMU’s growth as a global center for health sciences.