Prof. Dr. Zia Ul Haq (Vice Chancellor)
Meritorious Prof. Dr. Zia Ul Haq Profile
Vice Chancellor's Biography
Meritorious Professor Dr Zia Ul Haq
Qualification:
- PhD Public Health (University of Glasgow, UK), sponsored by Government of Pakistan. The thesis can be accessed online via this link: http://theses.gla.ac.uk/5519/
- Post Doctorate Public Health (Keele University, UK)
- Fellowship Faculty of Public Health (Royal Colleges of London, Edinburg & Glasgow, UK)
- Fellowship in Community Medicine (College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan)
- Diploma in Medical Education (Khyber Medical University)
- Master in Public Health [MPH] (Gandhara University, Pakistan)
- MBBS [Doctor of Medicine] (Khyber Medical College, University of Peshawar, Pakistan)
AWARDS OF PROF DR ZIA UL HAQ
- Awarded the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Civil award of Pakistan) by the President of Pakistan. This esteemed recognition honors his exceptional contributions to education, research, and Public Health. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitara-i-Imtiaz)”
- Received Higher Education Commission of Pakistan Best Researcher Award in health sciences category on 7th August 2019 and a cash prize of 150,000 PKR by the hand of Chairman HEC Pakistan.
- Awarded Higher Education Commission, Best University Teacher Award and a cash prize of PKR 100,000 by the Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training in a ceremony held at Islamabad on 21st Feb 2018.
- Received University of Glasgow World Changing Alumni Award 2023 for his significant contribution to shaping the healthcare system, health policy and education in Pakistan.
- Best Financial Management Award as Vice Chancellor by the Chancellor of Khyber Medical University 2022.
- Received lifetime achievement award on 22nd Feb 2017 in recognition of outstanding services in the field of Public Health by the hand of His Excellency, Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Best Teacher Khyber Medical University Award 2017-18 “in recognition of his services to inculcate research among public health students”.
- Fully paid scholarship under the competitive foreign PhD scholarship scheme of “Development of Khyber Medical University Peshawar” by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan; 2010-2014.
Biography of Dr. Zia Ul Haq, Vice Chancellor, Khyber Medical University
Dr. Zia Ul Haq serves as the youngest Vice Chancellor, Chief Executive, and Principal Accounting Officer of Khyber Medical University (KMU), one of the largest public medical universities in Pakistan. He is also the Pioneer Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Public Health & Social Sciences. KMU now spans 26 postgraduate institutes, 27 medical and dental colleges, and 210 nursing and allied health sciences institutes, educating over 74,000 students.
Dr. Zia is an accomplished educator and researcher, having supervised over 40 master’s and PhD students and published more than 110 research articles, garnering over 2,800 citations. His research has attracted over 6 billion PKR in funding from UN agencies and other organizations. A key proponent of the family practice approach to healthcare, he has fostered collaborations with the WHO, the Ministry of Health, and leading universities. His educational contributions have shaped thousands of students in medical and public health disciplines.
In recognition of his transformative leadership, Dr. Zia’s tenure was extended to March 2028. He was elected president of the Pakistan Network of Quality Assurance in Higher Education (PNQAHE) and has been instrumental in KMU’s expansion—from a single campus to 18 campuses across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), with plans for an international campus in Kabul. Under his leadership, KMU achieved 100% self-reliance, up from 50%, and introduced a fully paperless operation, market-based salaries for staff, and third-party hiring for support staff.
Dr. Zia’s governance reforms have earned him national recognition, including a special award from the Government of KP in 2022. He has overseen the creation of a 250-bed hospital dedicated to non-communicable diseases, expanded medical student enrollment by 500 seats, and launched two new medical and dental colleges. In the past four years, KMU has secured record research funding, especially in public health, with revenue surpassing the university's entire budget.
As Dean of Public Health, Dr. Zia established the Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL KP) at KMU, with substantial support from federal and provincial governments and donors. The laboratory conducts 6,000 COVID-19 PCR tests daily and has played a pivotal role in COVID-19 testing and vaccination, becoming one of the largest vaccination centers in KP. Under his leadership, KMU has contributed significantly to public health research and policy, including pioneering surveys on gender-based violence and diabetes across Pakistan.
Dr. Zia is also a founding member of the Institute of Public Health, which offers a range of programs from BS Public Health to PhD in Public Health. He has expanded KMU’s academic offerings with the establishment of the Institute of Family Medicine and the Institute of Mental Health. Both institutes offer diplomas and degrees in family medicine, clinical psychology, and psychiatry. The Institute of Public Health & Social Sciences has secured funding from major international organizations, positioning it as a leading center for public health research and policy.
Through his collaborations with the WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and other international bodies, Dr. Zia has played a central role in shaping public health policy in Pakistan. He has spearheaded initiatives in environmental health, human resources for health, and infectious disease surveillance. His work with the ICRC has led to significant research on violence against healthcare workers, contributing to a bill now passed by the KP Assembly.
With a strong commitment to advancing healthcare education and research, Dr. Zia’s leadership continues to drive KMU’s growth as a global center for health sciences.
