ISLAMABAD: Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) took a technological leap by approving a dedicated centre for artificial intelligence, robotic surgery and digital healthcare on Tuesday, while also clearing the way for an international medical college and a new College of Pharmacy.
These decisions were taken unanimously at the university’s syndicate meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Tanwir Khaliq, which was also attended by Senator Fawzia Arshad, Member of the National Assembly Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Prof Dr Ziaul Haq, Quaid-i-Azam University Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Nawaz Jaspal, SZABMU Registrar Prof Dr Syed Tanseer Asghar and other members.
The syndicate approved the establishment of the Centre for AI, Robotics, Health Intelligence and Policy Innovation (CARHIPI) as SZABMU’s first centre of excellence for AI-enabled robotic surgery and digital disease management.
The centre will focus on robotic-assisted surgery, AI applications in medicine, digital diagnostics and precision healthcare, besides providing opportunities for research, advanced training and international partnerships.
Proposed by SZABMU Registrar Prof Dr Syed Tanseer Asghar, who is also a surgeon, the centre is expected to become a hub for advanced surgical training and medical research.
The syndicate also gave conceptual approval for an international medical college in Islamabad, aimed primarily at overseas Pakistanis, children of expatriates, foreign nationals and international students.
Prof Khaliq said the initiative would help position SZABMU as a regional hub for medical education and strengthen its international academic links.
The university also received approval to establish a College of Pharmacy, with plans to offer Pharm-D and postgraduate research programmes.
The syndicate was informed that several PhD and specialised programmes in surgery, medicine, cardiology, pharmacy, physiology, public health, molecular biology and operative prosthodontics had also been approved, further expanding the university’s academic portfolio.
Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2026
