Current role

  • Member of the Senate of Pakistan (2021-todate)

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Government of Pakistan

  • Chair of the Ehsaas Ministerial Steering Committee, Punjab (August 2022-January 2023)
  • Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Federal Minister, Government of Pakistan (May 2019-April 2022)
  • Chair, Poverty Alleviation Coordination Council, Pakistan (Jan 2019-April 2022)
  • Chairperson, Benazir Income Support Program, Pakistan (Oct 2018-April 2022)
  • Federal Minister, Government of Pakistan (portfolios: Education and Training, Science and Technology, Information Technology and Telecommunications, Health, (2013)
  • Official Government of Pakistan Candidate for World Health Organization Director General, (was shortlisted amongst the 3 finalists, 2017)
  • Official Government of Pakistan Candidate, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015)
  • Member, National Commission on Science and Technology (2014-present)
  • Member Board of Governors, Benazir Income Support Program (2014-present)
  • Member, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (2016-present)
  • Member, High Court of Pakistan’s Commission on Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (2015)
  • Chair, Ministry of Finance’s Task Force on Strengthening Social Safety Net Institutions (2014-2015)
  • Member, Economic Advisory Council, Ministry of Finance (2014-present)
  • Member Advisory Committee, Planning Commission (2014-present)
  • Member, Advisory Committee, Federal Tax Ombudsman (2014-present)
  • Member Board of Directors, Infrastructure Project Development Facility, Ministry of Finance (2006-2009)
  • Member Health Committee, National Commission on Government Reforms (2006-07)
  • Visiting faculty, National School of Public Policy, Pakistan Administrative Staff College, National Management College; current senate member of the National Defence University and formerly, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics

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United Nations

  • Member, United Nations’ Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction (2020-)
  • Chair, United Nations University International Institute for Global Health (2016-ongoing)
  • Chair, UN Secretary General’s Independent Accountability Panel for the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2015-2016); stepped down after announcement of candidacy to avoid perception of conflict of interest

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World Health Organization

Headquarters:

      • Co-chair, WHO High-Level Independent Commission on Non-communicable diseases
      • Official Government of Pakistan Candidate for World Health Organization Director General, (was shortlisted amongst the 3 finalists, 2017)
      • Co-Chair, WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (2014-2016)
      • Member, WHO expert review group on an integrated response to mental health and other chronic diseases (2013-present)
      • Member Advisory Group, WHO Health Systems Research Strategy (2013)
      • Member, WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Health Promotion (2008-2013)
      • Board Member, [WHO’s] Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, (2008-2014)
      • Member, WHO’s Strategic Advisory Committee for Stewardship on Research on Infectious Diseases of Poverty (2009)
      • Member, WHO Consortium on Maximizing Positive Synergies between Health Systems and Global Health Initiatives (2008-2009)
      • Member, WHO Director General’s Expert Working Group on R&D and Financing (2008-2009)
      • Member, WHO Director General’s High-Level Task Force on Health Systems (2008)
      • Member, WHO’s Steering Committee, Mega Country Network on Health Promotion (2003-2004)
      • Served as Temporary Advisor on numerous occasions

    WHO Conferences

      • Member, Senator Group, WHO NCDs Ashgabat European Ministerial Conference (2013)
      • Council of Deans; First and Second Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (2011 and 2012)
      • Member, WHO’s International Steering Committee, First Global Ministerial Conference on Healthy Lifestyles and NCDs (2011)
      • Chair, Drafting Committee, WHO’s Venice Statement on Global Health Initiatives and Health Systems (2009)
      • Member, Programme Committee, WHO Global Forum IV (2004)

Regional Office (WHO EMRO):

    • Member, Network of Health System Experts (2013-present)
    • Member, Regional Director’s Technical Advisory Committee (2013)
    • International Advisory Panel, Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal (2013-present)
    • Founder and author, National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion, Pakistan. Tripartite Heartfile-Ministry of Health-WHO partnership (2003)

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World Economic Forum

    • Co-chair, World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on the Future of Heath and Healthcare
    • Trustee, Future of Health Global Challenge initiative, World Economic Forum (2016-present)
    • Member, World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council (2007-present)

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Other international organisations

    • Member, UHC Movement Political Advisory Panel, International Health Partnership (2022-)
    • Co-chair, Lancet PRIME Commission (2022-)
    • Member, Lancet Commission on Population Health (2022-)
    • Member Lancet Commission on Evidenced Based Global Health (2022-)
    • Member, Chatham House Commission for Universal Health Coverage (2022-)
    • Member, GAVI Board (2015-2016)
    • Chair, GAVI’s Independent Evaluation Committee (2011-2014)
    • Member, NCD Alliance Expert Advisory Council (2014-present)
    • Member, Stockholm Resilience Centre, The EAT-Lancet Commission, (2016-present)
    • Member, The Lancet and Rockefeller Foundation Commission on Planetary Health (2014-present)
    • Member, The Lancet and Harvard Commission on Pain and Palliative Care (2014-present)
    • Lead, Pakistan Lancet Series, Health Transitions in Pakistan, (2010-2013)
    • Member Steering Committee, the Emerging Markets Symposium, Green Templeton College, Oxford University (2014-present)
    • Member Advisory Committee, Lancet Global Health (2014-present)
    • Member, Global Health Policy Advisory Committee. PepsiCo, New York (2009-2010)
    • Member, US-Muslim Engagement Initiative (2011)
    • Member, Healthcare Advisory Council, Pakistan American Foundation (2011)
    • Member, Partners for a New Beginning, Aspen Institute (2011)
    • Member, Clinton Global Initiative (2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011)
    • Panel of Advisors, Center for Health Market Innovations R4D (2010)
    • Member, Board of Trustees, International Union for Health Promotion (2004­­-2010)
    • Member, Working Group, Private Sector in Health Systems, Rockefeller Foundation (2008-2009)
    • Member High-Level Task Force, Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health, Aspen Institute (2008)
    • Chair, International Consortium on Community Health Promotion, IUHPE (2004-05)
    • Chair, Expert Panel on Women and Heart Disease, World Heart Federation (2007)
    • Chair, Foundations Advisory Board and Board Member, World Heart Federation (2003-2006)
    • Chair, Steering Committee, World Heart Day (2003-2006)
    • Chair, International ‘Go Red for Women’ campaign (2004)
    • Executive Council Member, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Cardiac Society (2000-2002)

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Civil Society positions in Pakistan

    • Founder Heartfile. President up until 2019
    • Founder and President of Pakistan’s Health Policy Forum (2005)
    • Member Board of Governors, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (2009-present)
    • Member Board of Governors, Pakistan Center for Philanthropy (2013-2016)
    • Member Board of Governors, Trust for Voluntary Organizations (2005-2008)
    • Member Board of Governors, Chal Foundation (2012-2016)

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Clinical experience

    • Senior Registrar, Cardiology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad (1997-2000)
    • Clinical attachment, Guys hospital, London (1996)
    • Medical Officer, General Medicine, PIMS, Islamabad (1994-1996)
    • Medical Officer, Hayat Shaheed Teaching Hospital, Peshawar (1990-1994)

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