Aga Khan University set to expand

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AKU hosts climate adaptation conference in Karachi


Professor Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Founding Director of AKU's Institute for Global Health and Development, welcomes guests to the annual conference.Photo: AKU


Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of AKU, reads Mawlana Hazar Imam's statement to conference delegates.Photo: AKU

Pakistan’s top architects, urban planners and public health experts convened in Karachi today to develop strategies for building climate-resilient cities and communities in response to record temperatures and extreme flooding. Mawlana Hazar Imam sent a statement to delegates, which was read in the conference’s opening session.

The Aga Khan University’s Institute for Global Health and Development hosted the event in partnership with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network Pakistan. Government officials, development specialists and international collaborators discussed how Pakistan can redesign homes, neighbourhoods and public systems to withstand climate shocks.

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s statement, read by AKU’s President Sulaiman Shahabuddin, emphasised the urgency of climate action.

“Climate change is one of the greatest threat multipliers of our era. Its impacts intensify disease, malnutrition, displacement, learning loss, and poverty,” the statement read. “These burdens fall disproportionately upon women, children, older adults, and marginalized communities. Addressing them is not optional; it is imperative for equity, stability, and sustainable development.”

See full statement https://the.ismaili/speech/statement-fr ... nvironment

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal attended as chief guest, alongside Canadian High Commissioner to Pakistan Tariq Khan. Representatives from Europe, North America and Southeast Asia also participated in the discussions. The conference theme, Climate Change and the Built Environment: Promoting Resilience & Adaptation in Low-Income Settings, reflects Pakistan’s position as one of the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate impacts despite contributing less than 2 percent to global emissions.

The opening day featured keynote presentations on climate-smart architecture, indigenous design approaches and community-led adaptation strategies such as low-cost cooling techniques and traditional ventilation methods.

President Sulaiman said that AKU would continue advancing climate resilience research and partnerships. “Climate change is reshaping every aspect of life in Pakistan. Our responsibility as a university is to help the country design smarter, safer, more resilient environments,” he said. “AKU is committed to generating evidence, solutions, and partnerships that support climate adaptation at scale.”

The conference programme is scheduled to continue with sessions examining rural adaptation models, climate-resilient health systems, indigenous solutions and community-led innovations. Organisers have also planned a high-level policy panel to discuss national climate action frameworks.

https://the.ismaili/pt/en/news/aku-host ... in-karachi

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Singapore recognises Aga Khan University medical degree


MBBS students at the Aga Khan University recite the Hippocratic Oath, an ethical promise made by new physicians.

Karachi, Pakistan, 21 February 2026 — Singapore’s Ministry of Health has announced that graduates from eight highly ranked medical schools around the world—including AKU’s Medical College in Pakistan—can now apply to practice medicine in Singapore.

Medical doctors trained at AKU, whether they graduate before or after 2026, can apply for registration with the Singapore Medical Council to practice medicine, subject to meeting its requirements.

The new accreditation adds to a growing number of destinations that AKU medical graduates can consider when deciding where to build their careers and apply their learning.

“An AKU medical education equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to be change makers and to succeed globally,” said Professor Karim Damji, dean of AKU’s Medical College in Pakistan.

AKU’s MBBS degree is fully recognised in Pakistan and provides a strong, globally respected foundation for postgraduate training and medical practice internationally.

Graduates are eligible to pursue licensure pathways in many countries and regions including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and now Singapore.

About the Aga Khan University

The Aga Khan University helps to improve the quality of life in the developing world and beyond through world-class teaching, research and health-care delivery. The University educates students about local and global leadership, generates new knowledge to solve problems that affect millions of people, and raises standards and aspirations in the countries in which it works. It empowers women and the disadvantaged, builds support for pluralism, and collaborates with local partners and world-renowned organisations to achieve shared goals.

The Aga Khan University Medical College was established in 1983, as a part of the Aga Khan University’s Faculty of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan. It works closely with the School of Nursing and Midwifery and the University Hospital to produce excellence in educational programmes and medical practice.

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