Professor Dr. Zia ul Haq is not only the youngest Pakistani educationist to hold this key national office but also the first scholar from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to be entrusted with this important responsibility.

Dr. Zia Ul Haq served as the Vice Chancellor of Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar for the last six years. His distinguished record includes significant academic and research achievements.

Dr. Zia Ul Haq is ranked among the world’s top 2% scientists, according to Stanford University’s latest citation-based global listing. His contributions were also formally recognised by the President of Pakistan with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, which was presented to him on March 23, 2025.

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An MBBS graduate of Khyber Medical College with a PhD in Public Health from the University of Glasgow, he has authored over 100 research papers. He also served as convener of the Higher Education Task Force set up by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government.

During his tenure as Vice Chancellor, KMU achieved notable progress, marked by significant milestones in governance, financial stability, academic quality, and research output. He is a prolific researcher with 105 publications and successfully secured over Rs. 5 billion in competitive research funding.

Academicians and stakeholders have welcomed his appointment, expressing confidence that Dr. Zia Ul Haq will play a decisive role in guiding the country’s higher education sector. He is expected to prioritise addressing financial and administrative challenges while promoting a national culture of excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.