Celebrated World Pharmacists Day in collaboration with DVAGO and Aga Khan University Hospital

The Faculty of Pharmacy, Salim Habib University (SHU), in collaboration with DVAGO and Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), celebrated World Pharmacists Day on Thursday, September 25, 2025, with this year’s theme, Think Health, Think Pharmacist.

The event commenced with the opening remarks by Prof. Dr. Irfan Hyder, Vice Chancellor, SHU, followed by a Welcome Address delivered by Prof. Dr. Noor Kamil, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, SHU. Registrar SHU Dr. Muhammad Hussain Habib delivered the Vote of Thanks.

Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training, graciously accepted to be the Chief Guest for the event, while Dr. Obaid Ali Siddiqui, Lead, Strategic Office of Science & Technology, DRAP, was the Guest of Honor for the event.

The grand celebrations brought together government officials, pharmacy professionals, academicians, faculty members, and students to recognize the crucial contributions of pharmacists to patient-centred care. The event featured talks delivered by eminent experts from DVAGO who highlighted the significance of the day and discussed a range of pharmacy-centered topics. These experts included Mr. Wasif Khan, CEO, Mr. Mustafa Bilwani, Executive Director, Mr. Masood Ahmed Khan, Head of Retail Sales & Operations, and Ms. Sarah Munavar, Head of People & Culture.

The event also featured invigorating keynote sessions by esteemed representatives from the Aga Khan University Hospital, namely Ms. Faqeeha Shakeel, Assistant Manager Pharmacy Services, and Ms. Naila Ayoub, Manager Pharmacy Services.

The celebration was also commemorated with a World Pharmacists Day cake cutting by distinguished guests, followed by a challenging yet fun Quiz Competition and theatrical performance by PharmDeeS students, the departmental society of the Faculty of Pharmacy, SHU.

One of the major highlights of the event was a thought-provoking Panel Discussion themed ‘Empowering Pharmacists to Build Stronger Healthcare Systems in Pakistan’ which included experts from the academia and the pharmaceutical industry, including Prof. Dr. Muhammad Harris Shoaib, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Karachi, Prof. Dr. Irfan Hyder, Vice Chancellor, SHU, Dr. Zafar Alam Mahmood, Country Director Colocron, Mr. Masood Khan, Head of Retail Sales & Operations, DVAGO, Dr. Affan Ali, Deputy Director DRAP, Mr. Shamim Raza, Director Pharmacy Services, Aga Khan University Hospital, Mr. Shoukat Sahad, Manager Pharmacy, Aga Khan University Hospital, and Mr. Yasir Imam, Project Director, Cambridge Genetics. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Muhammad Ali Qazi, Associate Professor, Faculty of Pharmacy, SHU.

In conclusion, the event was a remarkable success, bringing together academicians, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders to recognize the vital role of pharmacists as key healthcare providers in improving global health, and fostering collaboration between academia, healthcare, and retail chains to enhance patient outcomes.