PESHAWAR: The President of Pakistan has conferred the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz upon Prof Ziaul Haq, recognising his exceptional leadership in public health and higher education.

At just 40 years of age, Prof Ziaul Haq made history as Pakistan’s youngest vice-chancellor. A scholar with an MBBS and a PhD in public health from University of Glasgow, he currently leads two of Pakistan’s premier institutions -- Khyber Medical University (KMU) and Islamia College Peshawar. He is also serving as the convener of Higher Education Taskforce in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hailing from the Syed family of Dir Upper, Prof Ziaul Haq is son of Syed Matiullah, a retired forest officer. Over the past four years, his visionary leadership has driven KMU to unprecedented growth in governance, financial stability, academic excellence and research.

An accomplished researcher, he has published 105 research articles, supervised eight PhD scholars, and secured Rs5 billion in international research funding. His contribution to academia has earned him Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan’s best researcher and best teacher awards. Additionally, he serves as a visiting professor of public health at University of Glasgow, UK.

The conferment of Sitara-i-Imtiaz underscores Prof Zia’s remarkable impact on higher education and public health, solidifying his reputation as one of Pakistan’s most accomplished and forward-thinking academic leaders.

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2025