President General Pervez Musharraf appointed Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President, AKU, as Chairman of the Steering Committee on Higher Education, in March 2002.

As Chairman, Dr. Kassim-Lakha has the status of a Minister of State and reports directly to the President of Pakistan on matters relating to the working of the Committee. Full Story

Siblings Return Home with Doctoral Degrees from Oxford and Toronto Universities
Helping to Bring Change in Educational System

As they resume teaching at AKU’s Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED), both the sisters are gearing up to participate in a much needed change in the country's educational system.

Dr. Nelofer Halai and her younger sister Dr. Anjum Halai have recently completed their doctoral studies from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, and  the Department of Educational Studies, Oxford University, respectively.  Full Story

Over 200 National and International Delegates Recommend Increased Public Health Spending on Preventive Strategies

Seminar on Asthma
'Fruits and Vegetables Prevent Asthma Attacks'

Children whose diet includes fruits and vegetables have decreased chances of developing asthma in later life. This was stated by Prof. Javaid Khan, Consultant Chest Physician at AKUH. He was speaking at the first of a series of educational seminars on asthma held at the University in January 2002, in collaboration with the Global Initiative for Asthma.
Full Story

Dr. Sunita Dodani (MBBS'92), Assistant Professor in the Family Medicine division of the Department of Community Health Sciences at AKU, was the recipient of the prestigious Pakistan Academy of Medical Sciences Award for the year 2000, conferred in December 2001. Full Story

AKU, in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), USA, has been awarded a grant of US $0.5 million from the Fogarty International Center of the United States National Institute of Health, to co-develop research training courses in Karachi and abroad for Pakistani health professionals wishing to advance their expertise in occupational and environmental health. Full Story

AKUH’s First Representative Office in Dubai Inaugurated

AKUH’s first international Representative Office was inaugurated in May, 2002 by H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Assistant Under Secretary and Director of Sharjah Medical District. Officials of the UAE Ministry of Health, the Consul General of Pakistan, cardiologists, prominent members of the Pakistani community and media representatives were present on the occasion. The AKU team from Karachi was led by Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, S.I., President of Aga Khan University, and included Nadeem Mustafa Khan, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital, Asif Fancy, Senior Director, Resource Development and Public Affairs, and Talaat Tyabji, Director Marketing and Public Affairs. Full Story

Pakistan's First Successful Grafting Operation of Plastic Cornea Performed at AKUH

AKUH reached yet another milestone in late 2001, when one of its ophthalmologists performed the first-ever successful grafting operation of plastic cornea in Pakistan. Full Story

Caring for Children

A branch of medicine devoted to diseases of children, infants and newborns, paediatrics, has a long and rich tradition of attracting the medical profession's best and brightest.
Full Story

Nurallah Merchant - Actuarial Background Helps Meet Multifaceted and Unique Challenges of a University

Nurallah A. Merchant is Director General of University Administration and Chief Financial Officer. He joined AKU as Manager, Budget and Planning, in 1986, and has since proven his mettle in all affairs that came within the purview of his work. His association with AKU speaks of dedication and untiring efforts towards the University achieving higher standards of quality in every sphere of its operation. Full Story

Hepatitis Awareness Day
Doctors Urge Vaccination Against Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B and C are global health problems. Worldwide 350 million people are carriers of Hepatitis B. At a reported rate of 5%, the number of Hepatitis B carriers in Pakistan is estimated at around seven million. This places a great burden on the government and the patients.
Full Story

First Academic Presence Abroad Established in Uganda
AKU Helps Address Health Care Needs in East Africa

At the opening of the renovated facilities housing AKU's Advanced Nursing Studies (ANS) Programme in February 2002, the Hon. Abel Rwendeire, Minister of Trade and Industry of Uganda, stated, that "the philosophy of AKU is to offer 'excellence' - the establishment should be a yardstick for our standards" and remarked that, "the physical facilities being offered by AKU are of world class." He added, "The future of the health sector in this country and the region as a whole is being underwritten by this type of vital investment in human resource capacity building." Full Story

Dr. Robert Baker Appointed Provost

Dr. Robert Baker has been appointed Provost of AKU. The Provost is the Chief Academic Officer of the University, reporting directly to the President. Full Story

Noor Jehan's life was a constant battle with poverty and misery, compounded by a large household. A working mother with nine children, she tried to make ends meet by working as a domestic servant in a house in Federal-B Area of Karachi, while Rashid, her husband, made Rs. 80 per day (US $1.5) by selling candyfloss to kids at a nearby school. It was a difficult life and the couple barely managed to clothe and feed their brood. Full Story

Stanley Wolpert on Jinnah's Vision of Pakistan