Princess Zahra Installed as Aga Khan University's First Pro-Chancellor

The Aga Khan University (AKU) marked a significant milestone at its 38th Convocation in Pakistan, celebrating the graduation of 461 students from 18 academic programmes while formally installing Princess Zahra Aga Khan as the University’s first Pro-Chancellor. The ceremony underscored AKU’s evolving leadership and expanding national footprint, with Princess Zahra assuming a role that will help steer the University’s mission of improving quality of life through education, research, and service. In a message to graduates, Chancellor His Highness the Aga Khan highlighted the responsibility carried by AKU and its alumni, describing their mandate as both an “extraordinary responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity” to create, share, and apply knowledge for human betterment. This year’s convocation was particularly notable for the first graduating cohort of the Institute for Educational Development’s Bachelor of Education programme. The degree blends rigorous academic preparation with field-based learning, aiming to equip future teachers for Pakistan’s diverse and evolving classrooms. Reflecting on AKU’s widening reach, Princess Zahra pointed to the University’s geographic expansion across the country, noting that AKU now serves communities in more cities and villages than ever before. She said the University’s professionals have become “part of the fabric of people’s lives,” from major urban centres such as Karachi to remote regions including Gilgit. Gender inclusion emerged as a defining theme of the graduating class, with nearly 70 percent of graduates being women. The figure highlights AKU’s continued role in narrowing gender gaps in higher education and healthcare, sectors critical to Pakistan’s development. Valedictorian Muhammad Taha Nasim, addressing the convocation, paid tribute to the faculty for demanding excellence while instilling empathy, a combination he described as central to AKU’s ethos. The University’s impact was also evident in workforce development, particularly in nursing and midwifery. With Pakistan facing an acute shortage of healthcare professionals, having only 5.2 nurses per 10,000 people, AKU alumni are helping bridge the gap. Graduates now hold leadership positions in around 80 nursing schools across the country. AKU’s research profile continues to strengthen on the global stage. In 2025, the University secured more than USD 100 million in research funding, and 27 faculty members were ranked among the world’s top two percent of scientists, reflecting growing international recognition of its scholarly output. Addressing the convocation, AKU President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin described Pakistan’s youth as inclusive and digitally fluent, emphasizing that they increasingly view technology not as a challenge but as an opportunity. Access to education remains central to the University’s mission. During the last academic year, AKU provided financial assistance to 72 percent of its students in Pakistan, ensuring that talent rather than means determines opportunity. Best Graduate Awards were conferred on Noorish Khan in Dental Hygiene, Syeda Tasmiya Mohiuddin in Education, Dr Hamzah Jehanzeb in Medicine, and Sara Karim Sadruddin in Nursing, recognizing outstanding academic achievement across disciplines. Related: AKUH Partners with Novartis for Better Cancer Care The convocation also paid tribute to long-serving members of the University community. Professor Emeritus Mushtaq Ahmed received the President’s Medal in recognition of his distinguished contributions as a surgeon and academic leader, bringing the ceremony to a close on a note of gratitude and continuity.