February 16, 2026
10:00 am
ASAB Auditorium NUST H12
TIMELINE
11:00 AM – MODERATOR OPENING REMARKS
Speaker: Ms. Kulsoom Masood Durrani, Panel Moderator
“Assalamu Alaikum and good morning, everyone.
My name is Kulsoom Masood Durrani, and it is my absolute honor to serve as your moderator for today’s landmark panel discussion at the Alliance HealthTech Summit & Expo 2026.
[PAUSE – Let audience settle]
Before we begin, I want to take a moment to acknowledge what brings us here today—and why this moment matters for Pakistan.”
THE HEALTHCARE CHALLENGE
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture. Our healthcare sector, currently valued at $15.42 billion, faces profound challenges that we cannot ignore. With only 1 doctor for every 963 people and significant disparities between urban and rural healthcare access, millions of Pakistanis lack basic medical care. These aren’t just statistics—they represent real people, real families, and real suffering.
But here’s what gives us hope: the global digital health market is projected to reach $639.4 billion by 2026. And Pakistan, with its 240 million digitally-connected citizens and one of the world’s youngest populations, stands uniquely positioned to transform this challenge into opportunity.
WHY THIS SUMMIT MATTERS
Today’s gathering is more than just a conference. It is a strategic platform that brings together the very people who will shape Pakistan’s digital health future:
• Government policymakers who set the direction
• Regulatory authorities who ensure safety and quality
• Technology leaders who build the infrastructure
• Healthcare entrepreneurs who create solutions
• Investors who fuel innovation
• And students—Pakistan’s next generation of healthtech pioneers
The fact that we have all these stakeholders in one room, engaged in dialogue, is itself a testament to how far we’ve come.
THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US
What excites me most about today is not just the problems we’ll discuss, but the solutions we’ll explore. Because Pakistan’s healthtech sector is not a distant dream—it’s happening right now:
• Telemedicine platforms connecting patients in rural Balochistan to specialists in Karachi
• AI-powered diagnostic tools making quality healthcare more accessible
• Digital health records reducing medical errors and improving continuity of care
• Mobile health applications bringing preventive care to underserved communities
And the entrepreneurs building these solutions need what we’re creating today: clarity on regulatory pathways, support from government, investment capital, and connection to the healthcare ecosystem.
A TESTAMENT TO COMMITMENT
The distinguished panel you’re about to hear from represents the very best of Pakistan’s health and technology sectors. These are leaders who didn’t just talk about change—they are actively creating it:
From the Ministry of National Health Services shaping national health policy, to the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority ensuring quality standards, to the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council protecting patient safety, to cybersecurity pioneers securing our digital infrastructure, to healthcare consultants bridging policy and practice, to entrepreneurs who’ve scaled successful healthtech businesses across Pakistan.
Their presence here today—taking time from incredibly demanding schedules—is a testament to their belief in Pakistan’s healthtech potential. It’s a testament to their commitment to building an ecosystem where innovation can thrive while patients remain protected.
WHAT WE’LL ACCOMPLISH TODAY
Over the next hour, we will explore critical questions:
• How can government policy accelerate healthtech adoption?
• What regulatory frameworks enable innovation while ensuring safety?
• How do we secure sensitive health data in an increasingly digital world?
• What makes healthtech solutions actually work in Pakistan’s unique market?
• And most importantly—where are the opportunities for investment and entrepreneurship?
For the students in this audience: listen carefully. The panelists will share insights that could shape your career paths and entrepreneurial ventures.
For the investors: pay attention. You’ll hear directly from regulators, policymakers, and successful entrepreneurs about where Pakistan’s healthtech sector is headed.
For the healthcare professionals: engage with these ideas. Digital health is not replacing you—it’s empowering you to serve more patients, more effectively.
PAKISTAN’S DIGITAL HEALTH MOVEMENT
We often talk about Pakistan’s challenges. Today, let’s talk about Pakistan’s capabilities. We have brilliant doctors, talented engineers, ambitious entrepreneurs, supportive government officials, and forward-thinking investors. When these forces align—as they are aligning in this room today—transformation becomes inevitable.
This is not just another panel discussion. This is Pakistan’s digital health movement taking shape. And every person in this room—whether you’re a policymaker, entrepreneur, investor, or student—has a role to play.
So let’s make the most of this opportunity. Let’s ask tough questions. Let’s seek practical solutions. And let’s leave here today with clearer pathways forward.
[PAUSE]
But before we begin, I’d like to invite the visionary behind this summit—the person whose dedication and hard work made this gathering possible—to share a few key notes about Alliance Pakistan’s mission and the road ahead.
Please join me in welcoming our Project Director, Mr. Sabih Nasir.”
[APPLAUSE]
11:05 AM – KEY NOTES BY PROJECT DIRECTOR
Speaker: Mr. Sabih Nasir, Project Director, Alliance Pakistan
[SABIH SPEAKS FOR 5 MINUTES – about Alliance Pakistan’s mission, vision for healthtech ecosystem, gratitude to partners, vision for future summits, etc.]
11:10 AM – MODERATOR TRANSITION & FORMAL PANEL INTRODUCTION
Speaker: Ms. Kulsoom Masood Durrani
“Thank you so much, Sabih, for those inspiring words and for your incredible leadership in making this summit a reality. Alliance Pakistan’s commitment to building Pakistan’s digital health ecosystem is truly commendable.
[APPLAUSE]
Ladies and gentlemen, it is now my great privilege to formally introduce our distinguished panelists. As I call each name, I invite them to join me on stage.
[INVITE PANELISTS ONE BY ONE – THEY TAKE SEATS ON STAGE]”
Dr. Soofia Yunus
Director Programmes, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. Dr. Yunus leads critical programs that touch millions of Pakistani lives, shaping our nation’s public health strategy and its digital transformation.
Dr. Rutabah Ikram
Deputy Registrar and Head of Registration & Licensing Directorate at the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority. Dr. Ikram ensures that healthcare facilities meet the quality and safety standards that protect all of us as patients.
Dr. Ahmad Usman Yousuf
Assistant Registrar at the Pakistan Medical & Dental Council. Dr. Yousuf safeguards the credentialing and standards that ensure medical professionals are qualified to care for Pakistan’s citizens.
Mr. Ammar Jaffri
Director General of the Center of Information Technology and Founder & CEO of the Pakistan Information Security Association. With over 40 years pioneering Pakistan’s cybersecurity infrastructure, Mr. Jaffri is the guardian of our digital security.
Dr. Fahd S. Kakakhel
Founder & CEO of Pak Health Consultants and Executive Director & CEO of the Digital Health Association Pakistan. Dr. Kakakhel bridges the gap between healthcare vision and on-ground implementation across Pakistan.
Dr. Muhammad Qasim
CEO of Cytotech, CEO of Premium International Hospital, and Global Young Academy Member. Dr. Qasim is living proof that Pakistani entrepreneurs can build and scale successful healthtech enterprises that serve millions.
[ONCE ALL PANELISTS ARE SEATED]
“Distinguished panelists, thank you for being here. Your expertise, leadership, and commitment to Pakistan’s health future are truly inspiring.
To our audience—both here in the auditorium and those joining us via live stream—we encourage you to stay engaged. We’ll have opportunities for questions, and your participation makes this dialogue richer.
Now, let’s begin our discussion.”
11:15 AM – PANEL DISCUSSION BEGINS
Director Programmes, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination
Question 1: Government’s Digital Health Vision
“Dr. Soofia Yunus, Pakistan’s public health programs reach millions of citizens nationwide. From the government’s perspective, what are the top 3 or some priorities for integrating digital health technologies into Pakistan’s existing healthcare delivery systems, and what policy support is the Ministry providing to enable this transformation?”
Question 2: Public-Private Partnership Models
“We’ve seen successful collaborations with organizations like WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi in your immunization programs. What lessons from these partnerships can guide healthtech entrepreneurs and investors looking to work with government health initiatives?”
Question 3: Investment in National Health Infrastructure
“For students and young entrepreneurs in this audience who want to build healthtech solutions for Pakistan, what are the gaps you see where innovation is most urgently needed? Where would you encourage them to focus their energy and investment?”
Deputy Registrar, HOD Registration and Licensing Directorate, Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA)
Question 1: Navigating Healthcare Regulation
“Dr. Rutabah Ikram, as someone heading IHRA’s Registration & Licensing Department, you’re at the frontline of healthcare regulation. For healthtech startups offering telemedicine, digital diagnostics, or AI-powered health solutions, what does the regulatory pathway look like? How can innovators ensure they’re building compliance into their solutions from day one?”
Question 2: Digital Licensing Systems as a Model
“You’ve implemented digitized online licensing systems at IHRA. What did that journey teach you about digital transformation in healthcare governance?”
Question 3: Quality Standards for Healthtech
“With your background in JCI accreditation and clinical quality management, how should we think about quality assurance for digital health platforms? What standards should healthtech companies be designing toward to ensure patient safety and build trust?”
Assistant Registrar, Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PMDC)
Question 1: Medical Regulation Meets Digital Health
“Dr. Yousuf, PMDC regulates Pakistan’s medical and dental practitioners. As telemedicine and digital health consultations become more common, how is PMDC thinking about regulating these new modes of care delivery? What guidelines should healthtech platforms follow regarding practitioner credentials and patient safety?”
Question 2: Credentialing and Digital Health Platforms
“With your expertise in medical credentialing and verification, what systems need to be in place to ensure that digital health platforms maintain the same standards of practitioner qualification as traditional healthcare?”
Question 3: Medical Education and Healthtech Skills
“As healthcare becomes more technology-driven, what digital health competencies should be integrated into medical education? How can we prepare Pakistan’s next generation of doctors to work effectively with healthtech tools?”
Director General, Center of Information Technology (CIT) | Founder & CEO, Pakistan Information Security Association (PISA)
Question 1: Cybersecurity in Healthcare
“Mr. Jaffri, with over 40 years of pioneering Pakistan’s digital security landscape, you’ve seen it all, from establishing the National Response Center for Cyber Crimes to leading Pakistan’s cybersecurity task force. As healthcare goes digital, patient data becomes incredibly sensitive. What are the biggest cybersecurity risks facing Pakistan’s healthtech sector, and what infrastructure needs to be in place?”
Question 2: E-Pakistan 2025 and Digital Health
“You’re leading E-Pakistan 2025 and Pakistan Digital Vision 2030 initiatives. How does digital health fit into this broader national digitalization strategy? What opportunities does this create for healthtech investment and innovation?”
Question 3: Public-Private Cyber Defense in Healthcare
“For healthtech companies, from small telemedicine startups to hospital management systems, what practical steps should they take to protect patient data? Are there government resources or PISA programs that can support them?”
Founder & CEO, Pak Health Consultants | Executive Director & CEO, Digital Health Association Pakistan
Question 1: Healthcare Consulting Perspective
“Dr. Kakakhel, Pak Health Consultants has worked on diverse healthcare projects across Pakistan, from smart hospitals to digital health solutions. From your consulting experience, what are the most common mistakes you see healthtech entrepreneurs make when trying to enter Pakistan’s healthcare market? What should they understand about ground realities?”
Question 2: Investment-Ready Healthtech
“As someone advising both healthcare institutions and tech companies, what makes a healthtech solution attractive to Pakistan’s hospitals and clinics? What features, pricing models, or implementation approaches lead to actual adoption versus staying as pilot projects?”
Question 3: Digital Health Association’s Role
“As the Executive Director of Digital Health Association Pakistan, what infrastructure, policy changes, or ecosystem support do you believe is most critical for scaling healthtech solutions across Pakistan? What should investors and government prioritize?”
CEO, Cytotech | CEO, Premium International Hospital | Global Young Academy Member
Question 1: Entrepreneur’s Journey
“Dr. Qasim, you’ve built both Ayyan Molecular Products, a leading biotech company, and Premium Diagnostics Centre with a nationwide network of 33 centers. That’s an incredible entrepreneurial journey. For students and aspiring healthtech entrepreneurs here today, what were the biggest challenges in scaling a healthcare business in Pakistan, and how did you overcome them?”
Question 2: Biotech Meets Healthcare Delivery
“You uniquely bridge cutting-edge biotech research with practical healthcare delivery. How do you see emerging technologies, AI in diagnostics, molecular medicine, precision health—transforming healthcare accessibility in Pakistan? Where are the biggest investment opportunities?”
Question 3: Public Health Impact at Scale
“With your work advising the Ministry of Health, UNFPA, WHO, and running a 33-center diagnostic network, you understand both policy and operations. If you could direct healthtech investment toward one area that would have maximum public health impact in Pakistan—serving the most underserved populations, what would it be and why?”
12:10 PM – CLOSING REMARKS
Speaker: Ms. Kulsoom Masood Durrani
“Distinguished panelists, ladies and gentlemen,
What a remarkable conversation we’ve had today.
We started by asking tough questions about Pakistan’s healthtech future, and what we’ve heard gives us every reason for optimism:
✓ Clear government commitment to digital health transformation
✓ Regulatory frameworks that enable innovation while protecting patients
✓ Cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard sensitive health data
✓ Practical pathways for entrepreneurs to enter the market
✓ And proof—through Dr. Qasim’s success and many others—that scaling healthtech in Pakistan is not just possible, it’s happening
We now have time for 4-5 questions from our audience.
Please raise your hand if you have a question, and our team will bring you a microphone. When asking your question, please state your name and affiliation, keep your question concise, and direct it to a specific panelist or the entire panel.
Who has our first question?”
END OF Q&A
“Thank you for those excellent questions. The engagement from this audience truly reflects the energy and curiosity driving Pakistan’s healthtech movement forward.
To our panelists: Thank you for your time, your expertise, and most importantly, your dedication to improving healthcare for all Pakistanis. Your leadership is building the ecosystem that will save lives and create opportunities.
To our audience: The conversation doesn’t end here. Connect with these leaders, explore the opportunities discussed, and most importantly—take action. Whether you’re a student considering a career in healthtech, an entrepreneur refining your business model, or an investor evaluating opportunities, Pakistan needs you to step forward.
KEYNOTE CLOSING REMARKS
Before we conclude our panel discussion, it is my honor to invite someone very special to share closing remarks—the visionary founder behind Alliance Pakistan, and the Convener.
Dr. Ahmad Hussen Tareq is a globally recognized pharmaceutical scientist and healthcare innovator whose work bridges groundbreaking research with real-world health impact.
Dr. Tareq advises health ministries on antimicrobial resistance and international health regulations, serves as Secretary and technical contributor to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI)—a global standards development body—and mentors healthtech startups across Singapore, Europe, and Pakistan.
But what brings Dr. Tareq closest to our mission today is his unwavering commitment to expanding healthcare access. His work in universal healthcare coverage, pharmacoeconomics, and digital health solutions reflects a vision that every person—regardless of geography or economic status—deserves quality healthcare.
That vision is what led him to found Alliance Pakistan—to convene stakeholders, catalyze collaboration, and accelerate Pakistan’s digital health transformation.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Dr. Ahmad Hussen Tareq.”
Dr. Tareq, the stage is yours.”
[APPLAUSE]
MODERATOR FINAL REMARKS & TRANSITION
Speaker: Ms. Kulsoom Masood Durrani
“Thank you, Dr. Tareq, for those inspiring words and for your visionary leadership in creating this platform that brings us all together.
Distinguished panelists, ladies and gentlemen,
What a remarkable morning we’ve had.
From government commitment to regulatory clarity, from cybersecurity infrastructure to market realities, from entrepreneurial success stories to your thoughtful questions—today’s dialogue has illuminated the path forward for Pakistan’s digital health transformation.
To Dr. Tareq and the entire Alliance Pakistan team: Thank you for convening this critical dialogue and for your ongoing commitment to Pakistan’s healthtech ecosystem.
This is Pakistan’s digital health movement, and we all have a role to play.
Please join me in one final round of applause for our outstanding panelists and Dr. Tareq!”
[STANDING OVATION]
“Ladies and gentlemen, our panel discussion has concluded, but the Alliance HealthTech Summit continues!
Please join us for:
• Networking Session starting immediately
• Product Demonstrations showcasing Pakistan’s latest healthtech innovations
• Workshop Sessions on specific healthtech topics
• Refreshments to continue conversations informally
The networking area and exhibition booths are now open. This is your opportunity to connect with the panelists, explore innovative solutions, meet potential collaborators and investors, and deepen the conversations we’ve started here today.
Thank you all for your engagement and participation. Let’s continue building Pakistan’s healthtech future—together!”