Dear KMU Family,

It is both an honour and a privilege to connect with you at this remarkable moment in our journey, a time brimming with new possibilities and immense pride in our collective achievements. As we reflect on the strides we have made, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Allah (SWT) for blessing us with the strength and opportunities to accomplish so much in such a short span of time.

Looking back over the last four years since my previous message, it feels as though time has passed at an accelerated pace. Our progress has been nothing short of extraordinary. We have grown from a modest student body of 3,000 to a vibrant community of over 10,000 students. The number of constituent institutes has more than doubled, now spanning across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—from Peshawar to Kurram, Mansehra, Swabi, Mardan, Swat, Dir, and Islamabad, with plans for expansion in Karak and Dera Ismail Khan. Additionally, we are honored to have onboarded 220 affiliated institutions, impacting around 70,000 students in medical, dental, nursing, and allied health sciences.

Our postgraduate offerings have flourished, now encompassing 26 programs, alongside new Bachelor, Master, MPhil, and PhD programs, all of which have been recognized by PMDC and HEC. KMU’s rise as the leading research institution in the region is evidenced by our advanced research projects and a 93% rating from the Quality Enhancement Cell. Alhamdulillah, Khyber Medical University has truly become a high seat of learning.

We have also significantly expanded our academic offerings. Our public sector MBBS and BDS seats have increased to 1,740, up from 1,300, while new fellowship programs, including FCPS, have been launched. We are proud to have introduced revolutionary academic reforms, such as upgrading the BS in Physiotherapy to the Doctor of Physiotherapy program, launching PhD and MPhil programs in Allied Health Sciences, and starting clinical services in rehabilitation, audiology, and occupational therapy.

In the field of pharmaceutical sciences, we’ve established the Institute of Pharmacy and introduced the Doctor of Pharmacy program, now the leading pharmacy program in the province. The introduction of clinical pharmacology in KMU Hospital further strengthens our academic and clinical infrastructure.

We have also made significant strides in diagnostics, public health, and nursing education. Our Public Health Reference Lab, previously focused on COVID-19 testing, now offers testing for over 15 notifiable diseases, placing us at par with national research institutions. We have launched several specialized programs, including those in Burns and Elderly Nursing, as well as BS programs in Medical Microbiology, Audiology, and Clinical Psychology.

In line with our vision of advancing healthcare, we’ve introduced new clinical services at KMU Hospital, including child and geriatric psychiatry. We also launched an online Master’s in Health Professionals Education and a Master of Public Health program, with scholars from multiple countries participating in these innovative courses.

Our vision of a fully paperless, modular, and tech-enabled educational environment has been realized. From student admissions to administrative processes, we are at the forefront of digital transformation in medical education. Our focus on modernizing curricula and implementing objective, computer-based assessments for all programs has reinforced our commitment to excellence.

We are also proud of the achievements in faculty development and employee welfare. Our groundbreaking Work-from-Home policy and the implementation of a scientific performance appraisal system reflect our commitment to empowering our workforce and ensuring the highest standards of quality in all areas.

Financially, KMU has achieved 100% self-reliance, up from 55%, and we are actively expanding our physical infrastructure with new campuses in Swat, Karak, and other regions. Our journey towards becoming a global leader in health sciences education and research is well on track.

None of these milestones would have been possible without the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of our faculty, students, staff, and leadership. Together, we continue to build a brighter future for Khyber Medical University, aligned with our vision to be a global leader in health sciences, education, and research, fostering efficient and compassionate healthcare.

Let us continue to move forward with the same commitment to excellence, striving to make KMU a beacon of knowledge and innovation for generations to come.

Vice Chancellor's Biography 

Prof Zia Ul Haq is working as the Vice Chancellor and pioneer Professor of Public Health & faculty member of Khyber Medical University (KMU), Peshawar Pakistan. Prof Zia possesses the qualification of MBBS, MPH, PhD in Public Health from Glasgow, Post-Doc from Keele & Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health, Royal College UK. He has 15 years of academic, research and administrative experience in the field of Health Sciences and published more than 50 research articles and 03 book chapters. He got exceptionally high research funding from UN, NIHR & MRC UK funded studies, worth more than 1.8 Billion PKR. Prof Zia played an important role in current response to COVID-19, introducing family practice approach, elderly care, obesity interventions & establishing regional public health labs, and was instrumental in making the first-ever health policy of KP Province. He has received HEC Country Best Researcher, HEC Best University Teacher & Life-Time Achievement Awards. He is recently appointed as visiting Professor of Public Health at the University of Glasgow, UK and the Director of the Asian Consortium for Health Research, Nanjing Medical University, China.

MBBS, MPH, CHPE, PhD, Post-Doc, FFPH
Vice Chancellor, Khyber Medical University