KARACHI, Jan 17, 2026 —
The Aga Khan University (AKU) conferred degrees on 461 students from 18 academic programmes at its 38th convocation in Pakistan, marking the occasion with the formal installation of Princess Zahra Aga Khan as the university’s first Pro-Chancellor.
The ceremony brought together graduates, faculty members and senior figures from the Aga Khan Development Network, underscoring the university’s expanding role in higher education, healthcare and research across the country
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In a message to the graduating class, AKU Chancellor His Highness the Aga Khan said the university and its alumni carried “an extraordinary responsibility and an extraordinary opportunity” to create, share and apply knowledge in ways that improve the quality of human life
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This year’s convocation was notable for the graduation of the first cohort from the Institute for Educational Development’s Bachelor of Education programme, which combines academic study with field-based training to prepare teachers for diverse school environments.
Addressing the gathering, Princess Zahra Aga Khan highlighted the university’s growing national footprint. “From Karachi to Matiari, from Lahore to Gilgit, the University’s health care professionals, educators, and researchers are now part of the fabric of people’s lives,” she said, pointing to AKU’s expansion into more cities and rural communities.
Nearly 70 percent of this year’s graduates were women, reflecting AKU’s emphasis on widening access to education in a country where millions of girls remain out of school. The university said its graduates are helping fill critical workforce gaps, particularly in healthcare. AKU alumni currently hold senior leadership roles in around 80 schools of nursing and midwifery nationwide, at a time when Pakistan’s nurse-to-population ratio remains low.
Valedictorian Muhammad Taha Nasim paid tribute to the faculty, saying they pushed students to meet high standards while instilling the importance of empathy alongside excellence.
AKU officials also highlighted the institution’s research profile. In 2025, the university secured more than $100 million in research funding, and 27 faculty members were ranked among the top two percent of scientists globally in a widely cited Stanford University-led study.
Speaking at the convocation, AKU President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin described Pakistan’s youth as digitally fluent and socially inclusive. “They see technology not as disruption but as opportunity — to expand knowledge, build skills, and apply learning in practical ways,” he said.
To support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, AKU said it provided financial assistance to 72 percent of its student body in Pakistan during the last academic year.
Best Graduate Awards were presented to Noorish Khan, Syeda Tasmiya Mohiuddin, Dr Hamzah Jehanzeb and Sara Karim Sadruddin in dental hygiene, education, medicine and nursing, respectively. The university also conferred Awards of Distinction on several faculty and staff, including the President’s Medal to Professor Emeritus Mushtaq Ahmed for his long-standing contributions to surgery and academic leadership.
Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, founding president of AKU and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Central Asia, was also present at the ceremony, which university officials described as a reaffirmation of AKU’s commitment to access, excellence and national development.
