Maroof International Hospital, in collaboration with Mövenpick Hotel Centaurus Islamabad, convened an International Nurses Day seminar in Islamabad to honour nurses and set a forward-looking agenda for Pakistan’s healthcare sector. The event brought together senior government officials, healthcare leaders, students, lady health workers, girl guides and representatives from corporate and hospitality sectors to discuss nursing education, clinical training and the country’s potential in medical tourism. Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani attended as chief guest, while Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan, Advisor and National Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Tourism, participated as guest of honour and Ch. Naseer Ahmed represented Maroof International Hospital leadership.
Haroon Naseer, CEO of Maroof International, led the seminar with a call to action to strengthen the nursing workforce and Pakistan’s healthcare infrastructure. He noted that nurses constitute nearly 60% of the global healthcare workforce and stressed the need for sustained investment in nursing education, continuous training and career development to meet the demands of modern care delivery.
Addressing the audience, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan highlighted the strategic opportunity to link quality clinical services with hospitality standards to grow medical tourism. “By combining quality healthcare, internationally trained professionals and world class hospitality, Pakistan can become a regional destination for affordable and reliable treatment,” he said, urging public and private sectors to collaborate on service standards and promotion.
Dr. Mir Abdul Waheed, Medical Director at Maroof International Hospital, paid tribute to nurses for their frontline role in patient care, emergency response and community health, underlining how a resilient nursing workforce strengthens overall health security. Ms. Catherine, Chief of Nursing, emphasised that “every patient’s journey to recovery begins with a nurse,” and called for expanded leadership development, modern clinical training and international exposure for Pakistani nurses to lift standards of care and safety.
The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment from hospital leaders, policymakers and industry stakeholders to support nursing professionals, promote healthcare innovation and develop Pakistan’s medical tourism ecosystem through meaningful public private partnerships. Attendees agreed that targeted investments in the nursing workforce, combined with coordinated tourism strategies, can deliver better patient outcomes and position Pakistan competitively in the regional healthcare market.
