Islamabad, November 28, 2025 –Renowned academician and public health specialist, Prof. Dr. Zia Ul Haq, assumed the office of Executive Director of Higher Education Commission (HEC) here on Friday.
The Vice Chancellor of Khyber Medical University, Peshawar for the last six years, Dr. Zia Ul Haq brings a wealth of leadership experience and a distinguished record of academic and research achievements to this key national role.
Dr. Zia Ul Haq has been ranked among the top 2% scientists of the world, according to the latest global ranking released by Stanford University, USA. It identifies the world’s most influential scientists across all disciplines, based on standardised citation indicators and verified data. His contributions were also recognized by the President of Pakistan with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, which was presented to him on March 23, 2025.
Dr. Zia Ul Haq completed his MBBS from Khyber Medical College and holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Glasgow, UK. He has also served as the Convener of the Higher Education Task Force established by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During his tenure as Vice Chancellor, KMU witnessed remarkable progress, achieving significant milestones in governance, financial stability, academic quality, and research output. A prolific researcher with 105 publications, he secured over PKR 5 billion in competitive research funding.
Academicians and stakeholders have welcomed his appointment, expressing confidence that Dr. Zia Ul Haq will play a vibrant and decisive role in steering the country’s higher education sector. He is expected to focus on addressing financial and administrative challenges and promoting a nationwide culture of excellence in teaching, research, and innovation.