The 18th meeting of the KEMU Senate took place under the chairmanship of Pro-Chancellor and Punjab Provincial Minister for Health Khawaja Salman Rafique, with a broad range of senior officials and academic leaders in attendance including Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry, Prof. Khalid Masud Gondal, Dr Ismat Tahira, Prof. Farid Ahmed Khan, Members of the Provincial Assembly Ms. Farzana Abbas and Ms. Shehr Bano, Ms. Sidra Saleem and senior officials from the Finance and Higher Education departments along with deans, heads of departments, chairpersons, medical superintendents and KEMU faculty.
The meeting opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem. At the request of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mahmood Ayyaz, the Pro-Chancellor formally inaugurated the session, and the Vice Chancellor welcomed new Senate members MPA Ms. Farzana Abbas and MPA Ms. Shehr Bano to the governing body.
The Registrar, Prof. Dr. Syed Asghar Naqi, presented the agenda to the KEMU Senate. All agenda items were approved unanimously, including confirmation of the minutes of the 17th Senate meeting, the revised budget for FY 2024–25, the budget estimates for FY 2025–26 and the endorsement of the university’s Endowment Fund Rules.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mahmood Ayyaz updated the Senate on ongoing development projects, research activity and academic reforms, reiterating the institution’s aim to become a world-class centre for research, innovation and service. He highlighted the university’s strategic initiatives and thanked faculty and staff for their collective efforts in advancing KEMU’s mission.
Among the initiatives discussed were the launch of the School of Artificial Intelligence to support cutting-edge medical research, expanded programs in Allied Health Sciences, the Co-ablation Cancer Clinic and the establishment of a Bio Bank. Plans for a Genome Sequencing Lab were presented as a major step to deepen research into genetic diseases and to support advanced diagnostics.
The vice chancellor also reported on campus solarisation efforts and growing international collaboration, including a recent visit by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan. He noted KEMU’s improved standing in the QS World University Rankings and the institution’s 93.7 score from the Higher Education Commission, the highest among public medical universities, acknowledging in particular the support of Prof. Khalid Masud Gondal and Prof. Farid Ahmed Khan.
Pro-Chancellor Khawaja Salman Rafique praised KEMU as a globally recognised medical institution, paid tribute to doctors who served in flood-affected areas, and reviewed provincial health initiatives led by the Chief Minister such as the Children Heart Surgery Program, Dialysis Program and Transplant Initiative. He noted the introduction of Co-ablation technology at Mayo Hospital and progress on major projects including the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, Jinnah Institute of Cardiology and the Nawaz Sharif Medical District, while also acknowledging contributions from Secretary Health Punjab Mr. Azmat Mehmood Khan and the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Ayyaz.
Justice Shahram Sarwar Chaudhry expressed pride in serving on the KEMU Senate and congratulated the administration on its improved QS ranking. The meeting concluded with Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Moin expressing thanks to the Pro-Chancellor, senate members, legislators, distinguished guests and the KEMU faculty for their participation and support of the university’s ongoing reforms and projects.
