President reaffirms government's pledge to accord top priority to higher education: first meeting of SZABMU's senate held

President Mamnoon Hussain on Thursday reaffirmed commitment of the government to accord top priority to the promotion of higher education in all disciplines including medical sciences. The President, also the Chancellor of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, said this while chairing the first meeting of its senate here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The President called upon the university to focus on bringing out latest and quality research in the field of medical and allied health sciences so as to cope with growing challenges in health and medicine sectors. He urged the university's management to particularly focus on the evaluation of the performance of various departments as per international standards.
The President also emphasised the need for developing and strengthening linkages of SZAMBU with the reputed international universities and health institutes to benefit from global expertise in medical sciences. The meeting was apprised about the visit of the medical team of SZABMU, PIMS and Polyclinic to the Internally Displaced Persons' camps in Bannu and providing them health services.
The President appreciated the initiative of the SZABMU to dispatch two mobile health units along with paramedical staff and doctors for the IDPs of North Waziristan. He asked them to also vaccinate the children at camps with anti polio vaccine. Professor Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor, SZABMU gave an overview of the academic activities, research development and other achievements, ongoing and future projects and plans of the university.
As per agenda, the first senate meeting considered various names to nominate to the syndicate of the university and after thorough deliberations appointed with consensus two deans namely Professor Ashok Kumar, Dean Faculty of Basic Medical sciences, who is also member of the senate and senior faculty member and Professor Anser Masood, Dean Faculty of Dentistry and allied health sciences, who is also member of senate by virtue of Chairman, Department of Operative Dentistry.
The meeting also appointed with consensus Professor M Iqbal Memon, Chairman Department of Anesthesia and member of senate as member for Finance and Planning Committee of the University. Under sub-section (C) of section 22 of the University Act, the senate of the university is authorised to appoint or nominate members to the syndicate and other authorities of the university.
The senate members of the university thanked the President for chairing the meeting and assured that the university will continue to work for promoting quality research and achieving excellence in the field of medical and allied health sciences. The President assured all-out support and patronage to the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University in its educational pursuits and plans and the promotion of health education in the country.
The university's senate members present during the meeting included Senator Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari, Chairman Senate of Pakistan, Dr Tariq Fazal Chudhary, MNA, Asghar Chaudhry, Acting Secretary CA&DD, Professor Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor, SZABMU, Professor M Amjad Chaudhry, Registrar SZABMU, Professor Tanwir Khalique, Controller of Examinations, SZABMU, Dr Altaf Hussain, Administrator, PIMS, Professor Muhammad Tariq, Chairman, Department of Burns Surgery, Professor Shahid Nawaz Malik, Chairman, Department of Cardiology, Dr Ikram Ullah Khan, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Professor Zahoor Ahmed, Chairman, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, Professor Ghias uddin Butt, Chairman, Department of Nephrology, Professor Iqtida Haider, Chairman, Department of Neonatology, Dr Qasim Mahmood, Chairman, Department of Oncology and Professor Imran Sikandar Khan, Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Usman Ibrahim, Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development was also present.