Chicago: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, has initiated discussions on potential collaboration between Pakistan’s premier medical institutions and the University of Illinois Chicago during his visit to the United States.

According to Press Information Department, the Minister engaged with the University’s leadership, including the Provost, Vice Provost, and Dean of the medical faculty, to explore academic, research, and healthcare opportunities. The discussions centered on collaboration with the proposed Jinnah Medical Complex and Research Centre and the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center. Areas of focus included medical education, research, innovation, and advanced healthcare.

Minister Iqbal emphasized the government’s commitment to developing a state-of-the-art healthcare infrastructure and forming international academic linkages. He highlighted Pakistan’s interest in UIC’s expertise in robotic surgery and medical research, initiating a virtual discussion between PKLI’s President and UIC’s leadership.

The discussions also considered expanding the US-Pak Knowledge Corridor to include medical sciences, potentially involving faculty and student exchanges, scholarships, joint research, and advanced surgical training. Minister Iqbal expressed interest in integrating internationally recognized academic medicine models for the development of Pakistan’s medical institutions.

Reflecting on past US-Pak academic partnerships, the Minister noted his role in expanding the Pakistan-USEFP Fulbright Scholarship Programme. UIC’s leadership expressed interest in continuing dialogue with Pakistan to explore future collaboration, sharing their Brazilian model of integrated healthcare and medical education as a potential blueprint for Pakistan’s medical development.