KARACHI: The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) held its 59th Convocation Ceremony, during which degrees were conferred upon more than 947 medical specialists, including 796 Fellows and 151 Members.
The convocation was attended by Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal as the Chief Guest. Distinguished Guests of Honour included Marcia Clark, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Hany Etieiba, President of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
The ceremony was attended by prominent national and international medical leaders, including Professor Rowan W. Parks, former President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Professor Johan Fragan and Dr. A. S. Modise Zach Koto from the Colleges of Medicine, South Africa, Dr. A. S. Thanyadej Nimanwudipong, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand, Professor Mike Hallissey from the United Kingdom, Dr. Conor Maguire, Vice President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Dr. Asad Raheem, Regional Director CPSP Birmingham, Professor Dr. Gohar Wajid from the World Health Organization, Egypt, and Professor Dr. Tazeem Hussain, Regional Director CPSP Riyadh, along with heads of medical institutions, senior Fellows, supervisors and faculty members from all four provinces.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by the national anthem. President CPSP Khalid Masood Gondal inaugurated the convocation and welcomed the guests, while Vice President CPSP Ambreen Afzal Ehsan administered the oath to the graduating specialists, pledging honesty, dedication to humanity and professional responsibility.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Khalid Masood Gondal paid tribute to CPSP’s founding leadership, including General Wajid Ali Burki, Professor Muhammad Sultan Farooqi and Professor Zafarullah Chaudhry. He highlighted that since its establishment in 1962, CPSP has expanded from two fellowship programs to more than 90, the highest number offered by any such institution globally. He noted that CPSP has trained over 50,000 medical specialists to date, with more than 40,000 doctors currently enrolled in postgraduate training programs. He congratulated the Fellows and their families and emphasized that the oath taken should guide t
heir professional lives. He also acknowledged the role of teachers and trainers and thanked the Federal Health Minister for his role in the recent recognition of CPSP Fellowship in Qatar.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Hany Etieiba said that medicine is not merely a profession but a lifelong responsibility rooted in human service, stressing the importance of empathy alongside clinical skills. Dr. Marcia Clark congratulated the successful candidates and said the convocation marked the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance, adding that CPSP qualifications are held in high esteem internationally.
In his keynote address, Federal Minister for Health Syed Mustafa Kamal emphasized the need for fundamental reforms in Pakistan’s healthcare system, calling for a shift from hospital-based treatment to preventive and protective healthcare. He announced that Pakistani medical qualifications have recently been fully re-recognized in Qatar, enabling Pakistani doctors to work there without additional examinations, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to healthcare reforms and workforce development.
During the ceremony, gold medals were awarded to outstanding candidates for exceptional performance in Fellowship examinations. Dr. Mir Musab received a gold medal for FCPS Part II (Pulmonology), Dr. Muhammad Wasim Sajjad for Cardiac Surgery, and Dr. Samia Khan for FCPS Part II (Orthopedic Surgery).
Honorary Fellowships were conferred upon Dr. Marcia Clark and Professor Dr. Hany Etieiba by the CPSP President and senior office bearers. The ceremony concluded with the awarding of degrees to all successful candidates, followed by a group photograph with CPSP Council Members to mark the occasion.
