Day 1 of the 1st International Conference on Emerging Trends in Biomedical Engineering, Science and Technology (ICETBEST) 2024, organized by the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Salim Habib University, took place at SHU on February 28, 2024, in realization of the vision of the University's Honourable Chancellor and Conference Patron-in-Chief Dr. Iram Afaq and her mission of advancing education, science, and technology in Pakistan.

The day began with a grand Inauguration Ceremony held to officially signify the opening of the conference. The ceremony featured addresses by Vice Chancellor SHU and Conference Patron Prof. Dr. Shakeel Ahmed Khan, Dean Faculty of Engineering SHU and Conference Convener Prof. Dr. M. Zeeshan Ul Haque, Keynote Speeches by Prof. Dr. Syed Athar Enam, Chair, Department of Surgery AKU, and Prof. Dr. Stephanie Willerth, Canada Research Chair, Biomedical Engineering, University of Victoria, Canada, and a Panel Discussion by Vice Chancellors on Transforming Education in Pakistan. The panelists for this riveting discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Tariq Rahim Soomro, Acting Rector IoBM, included Prof. Dr. Saeed Quraishy, Vice Chancellor DUHS, Prof. Dr. Johar Ali, Vice Chancellor UIT, Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin, Vice Chancellor SSUET, and Prof. Dr. Zubair A. Sheikh, President MAJU.

The Inaugural also included a talk by the Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. S. M. Tariq Rafi (TI), Chairman Sindh HEC, and an address by the Guest of Honour Prof. Dr. Farhan Essa Abdullah, President Pakistan US Alumni Network and CEO, Dr. Essa Laboratory & Diagnostic Center. A ceremony was then held to award our esteemed guests with tokens of our appreciation in the form of shields and souvenirs.

The Inaugural Ceremony, attended by dignitaries and personalities of renown from the fields of education, industry, and science all over Pakistan and abroad, as well as Executive Director Education SHU & Executive Advisor ICETBEST Dr. M. Hussain Habib, COO TSHEF & SHU Mr. Muhammad Abbas, Member BoG Mr. Tariq Amin, Registrar SHU Prof. Dr. Kaleem Raza Khan, Deans and Directors from SHU, and faculty members and students of the University’s Department of Biomedical Engineering, was followed by the conference proceedings for Day 1, consisting of poster and project displays, and technical sessions.

The day ended on a high note with a hi-tea cruise for conference guests, for which we express our gratitude to Dr. Farhan Essa.

Dr. Iram Afaq, in a message, sent her regards and best wishes for the success of the conference and appreciated the hard work and efforts of the conference organizers.