PESHAWAR: Prof Wajid Ali Akhunzada has been elected president of the Saarc Psychiatric Federation (SPF) for a two-year term.

He succeeded Dr Shehan Williams of Sri Lanka at the 16th SPF International Conference, which was held at the Maldivian National University in Malé of late.

Prof Akhunzada, a former psychiatrist at the Khyber Girls Medical College and Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, stressed the need for regional cooperation to improve mental health services across South Asia.

He said efforts should focus on upgrading services in Saarc member countries in view of the rising prevalence of mental health problems.

The psychiatrist said in line with the federation’s mission, developing mental healthcare frameworks suited to the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of the Saarc region was critical to ensure people’s well-being.

“We will strive to ensure equitable access to psychiatric care regardless of the location of those requiring assistance,” he said.

Prof Akhunzada said that in order to address challenges posed by recent developments, the SPF would work with its members to integrate specialised research and treatment protocols for climate change-induced stress, social media-related issues and the mental health needs of youth.

He said among the federation’s objectives was the elimination of the stigma associated with psychiatric illnesses, the strengthening of peer collaboration to share clinical experiences, optimisation of patient referral systems and the training of specialised community healthcare teams.

The psychiatrist thanked his senior colleagues, including Prof Afzal Javed, Prof Khalid Mufti, Prof Fareed Minhas and Prof Mawadat Hussain Rana, for their support.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2026