Vice Chancellor Message
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
Qualifications
- 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
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zia_Ul_Haq_(vice_chancellor)
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.