Under the chairmanship of Pro-Chancellor and Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, the 18th meeting of the KEMU Senate convened with senior university leaders, government officials and faculty in attendance. Distinguished attendees included Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry, Professor Khalid Masud Gondal, Dr Ismat Tahira, Professor Farid Ahmed Khan, Members of the Provincial Assembly Ms Farzana Abbas and Ms Shehr Bano, Ms Sidra Saleem, Additional Secretaries from Punjab finance and higher education departments, Dr Zahida, deans, heads of departments, chairpersons, medical superintendents of affiliated hospitals and the teaching faculty of King Edward Medical University.
The session opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the national anthem. At the request of Vice Chancellor Professor Mahmood Ayyaz, Pro-Chancellor Khawaja Salman Rafique formally inaugurated the meeting, and the Vice Chancellor welcomed two new Senate members, MPA Farzana Abbas and MPA Shehr Bano.
Registrar Professor Dr Syed Asghar Naqi presented the agenda items, which the KEMU Senate approved unanimously. The approved business included confirmation of the minutes of the 17th Senate meeting, approval of the revised budget for fiscal year 2024–25, budget estimates for fiscal year 2025–26, and endorsement of the Endowment Fund Rules of the university.
Vice Chancellor Mahmood Ayyaz updated the Senate on ongoing development projects, research activity and academic reform efforts aimed at raising KEMU’s global profile. He outlined progress on the newly established School of Artificial Intelligence, expanded programs in Allied Health Sciences, the Co-ablation Cancer Clinic and Bio Bank initiatives, and plans for a Genome Sequencing Lab to support genetic disease research. Campus solarization and recent international engagements, including the visit of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan, were highlighted as steps that strengthen KEMU’s research and collaboration footprint.
The Vice Chancellor also noted KEMU’s improved standings, referencing the university’s QS ranking and a 93.7 score from the Higher Education Commission, the highest among public medical universities, and expressed gratitude to the faculty for their collective efforts. He offered special appreciation to Professor Khalid Masud Gondal and Professor Farid Ahmed Khan for their support in advancing the university’s goals at institutional and regulatory levels.
Pro-Chancellor Khawaja Salman Rafique praised KEMU as a globally recognized medical institution and paid tribute to doctors who contributed services in flood-affected areas. He highlighted provincial health initiatives under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, including the Children Heart Surgery Program, Dialysis Program and Transplant Initiative, and noted that Co-ablation technology has been introduced at Mayo Hospital. Major projects such as the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology and the Nawaz Sharif Medical District are near completion, while nursing sector reforms continue to progress. The Pro-Chancellor also acknowledged the contributions of Secretary Health Punjab Azmat Mehmood Khan and commended Vice Chancellor Mahmood Ayyaz for leading the university and its collaborative projects with the provincial government.
Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry expressed pride in serving on the KEMU Senate and congratulated the administration for the university’s improved QS ranking. At the close of the meeting, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Moin extended heartfelt gratitude to the Pro-Chancellor, Senate members, provincial representatives, distinguished guests and the faculty for their participation and support in advancing KEMU’s academic and research agenda.
