LAHORE – The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan, Mr. Yerzhan Kistafin, visited the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore on Thursday.
He was accompanied by Dr. Anar Turmukhambetova, Board Chairman and Rector of Astana Medical University, along with embassy officials Daniyar Altayev and Rana M. Irfan Haider.
During the visit, the Kazakh delegation met with UHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nadia Naseem, Registrar Ms. Kiran Fatima and senior faculty heads to discuss possibilities of academic cooperation between medical universities of both nations.
Ambassador Kistafin highlighted that over 1,000 Pakistani students are currently enrolled in universities across Kazakhstan, a majority of whom are studying medicine. “Kazakhstan is eager to deepen its academic ties with Pakistan in the field of medical sciences,” he stated, proposing the establishment of a Kazakhstan-Pakistan Joint Medical Centre as a landmark initiative.
He emphasized the importance of further strengthening bilateral relations, expressing optimism that several collaborative agreements will be signed during the upcoming visit of the President of Kazakhstan to Pakistan later this year.
Dr. Anar Turmukhambetova commended the intellect and dedication of Pakistani students studying in Kazakhstan. “Our medical education system closely aligns with Pakistan’s, which opens up vast opportunities for academic exchange and joint research,” she noted. She proposed launching joint degree programs in medicine and applied sciences and suggested the formation of a joint working group to facilitate structured cooperation.
Dr. Turmukhambetova also shared that Astana Medical University has recently introduced a military medicine program, marking a new frontier in teaching and research. She praised UHS’s flagship “Pyari Beti” initiative, calling it “a systematic effort for girls’ health that deserves international replication.”
