The 30th Annual International Conference of the Pakistan Association of Plastic Surgeons drew more than 400 delegates and a dozen international faculty to Islamabad, highlighting the country’s growing role in reconstructive and aesthetic care.
The event was organized under the leadership of Conference Secretary Prof. Dr. Abdul Khaliq Malik, Head of Plastic & Burn Surgery at PIMS, and proceeded smoothly despite regional challenges, reinforcing confidence in Pakistan’s surgical education ecosystem.
As a scientific platform, the conference offered research-led presentations, advanced lectures and live surgical workshops. A dedicated track on non-invasive aesthetic procedures, including Botox, fillers and fat grafting, provided residents and practising specialists with practical exposure to global techniques and standards.
International experts who participated included Prof. Dr. Eva Maria from Germany, President of ICOPLAST, and Prof. Nick Wilson John from the UK, Chair of the BAPRAS Education Committee, alongside leading specialists from China, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina and Saudi Arabia, fostering cross-border academic collaboration.
A major development at the conference was the formal inauguration of the Pakistan National Medical Tourism Initiative under the Special Investment Facilitation Council. The ceremony, attended by Health Secretary Aslam Ghauri and DG SIFC Maj. Gen. Asad ur Rehman Cheema, outlined plans to position Pakistan as a regional destination for affordable, high-quality reconstructive and aesthetic surgery as part of a broader Medical Tourism strategy.
Academic and institutional backing came from the vice chancellors of NUMS and SZABMU, with administrative patronage from Prof. Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar, Executive Director of PIMS. During the proceedings new leadership of PAPS was sworn in, naming Prof. Dr. Mazhar Nizam as President and Prof. Dr. Mughees Amin as President-Elect.
Organisers acknowledged the contributions of many individuals, with Prof. Dr. Abdul Khaliq Malik expressing gratitude to the organising committee and highlighting the tireless efforts of Dr. Safdar Ali and Prof. Dr. Farrukh Aslam. The enduring services of pioneers such as Prof. Mamoon Rasheed and Prof. Moazzam Nazir Tarar were celebrated for inspiring the next generation of surgeons.
The three-day programme concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen international academic ties and to leverage Medical Tourism as a means to expand access to quality reconstructive and aesthetic services, supporting Pakistan’s emergence as a regional centre of surgical innovation.
