Prof Dr Zia Ul Haq Appointed as Pro-Vice Chancellor of KMU

On the recommendation of the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Governor of KP has appointed Prof Dr Zia Ul Haq (BPS-21) Dean Public Health as Pro-Vice Chancellor of Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar for the period of two years with immediate effect. He has earned this prestigious position at the youngest age of 39 years. Prof Zia belongs to the Syed Family of district Dir Upper and his father Syed Matiullah was a senior retired forest officer.

It is worth mentioning that Pro-Vice-Chancellor of a University is appointed by the Government to act as officiating Vice- Chancellor or Acting Vice-Chancellor, as the case may, be for the period of two years. The young Professor has already proved his mettle in the field as he was conferred with Lifetime achievement award 2017, HEC Pakistan Best University Teacher Award 2018, and HEC Pakistan Best Young Researcher Award 2019 in recognition of services in the field of public health.

Dr Zia is the first ever Professor of Public Health, and played a major role in establishing and bringing department of public health as one of the best institutes in the country. He initiated many public health & Family Medicine programs during the 11 years of his stay at KMU. He is supervising several PhD scholars and graduated multiple MPhil researchers. He is a principal investigator of several large research studies. He has the qualification of PhD Public Health from Glasgow, UK and MBBS and MPH from Pakistan. He has extensively published in the field of Public Health and work in close liaison with the department of health and partners.

Due to his good name and capabilities, the Minister for health KP Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan has included him as one of the 6 core group members of the Health Policy Advisory Council (HPAC) which works directly under his Chairmanship. The council has finalized the first ever provincial health policy within 100 days time of the Government formation and is now approved by the cabinet. The HPAC core group also meets regularly to monitor the implementation of this policy and update the Minister accordingly.

The appointment of this young competent professor as Pro-VC by the Government is warmly welcomed in the academic circles within and outside Pakistan. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Arshad Javaid and Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Saleem Gandapur, faculty, administrative and supporting staff of KMU have greeted Prof Dr Zia Ul Haq on his well deserved appointment as Pro-VC KMU.