KARACHI: The Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) honored senior dental leaders, educators, clinicians and institutional supporters for their contributions to dentistry, oral healthcare advocacy and professional leadership during its Grand Dental Symposium and Oath Taking Ceremony held in Karachi, where the country’s dental fraternity gathered to discuss major challenges facing the profession and recognize individuals who have played significant roles in advancing dental healthcare in Pakistan.
The ceremony, attended by Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput as chief guest, formed part of the Pakistan Dental Association’s official oath-taking event for its newly elected managing committee while also serving as a platform to acknowledge contributions made by former office bearers, healthcare professionals and supporting organizations linked to the dental sector.
The Pakistan Dental Association presented PDA Leadership Awards and Shields of Appreciation to several senior dental professionals for their services during the association’s previous tenure from 2019 to 2024.
Among the major recognitions, Prof. Dr. Nasir Ali Khan received the PDA Leadership Award for his services as General Secretary of the Pakistan Dental Association during the previous term. He currently serves as Dean of Dentistry at Karachi Medical University.
Dr. Syed Murtaza Raza Kazmi was also awarded the PDA Leadership Award for his contributions as Joint Secretary during the previous PDA tenure. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Prosthodontics at Aga Khan University.
Prof. Dr. Saima Akram Butt received the PDA Leadership Award for what the association described as meritorious services during the previous term. She is Professor of Oral Pathology at Ziauddin University Karachi and currently serves as Finance Secretary of the Pakistan Dental Association in the newly sworn-in managing committee.
Dr. Mahmood Shah, current President of the Pakistan Dental Association, was awarded the PDA Leadership Award for his services during his previous tenure as PDA President. Dr. Shah has also served as President of the Asia-Pacific Dental Federation representing 32 countries and as a member of the FDI Public Health Committee. He is additionally a recipient of Pakistan’s Sitara-e-Imtiaz for his contributions to the field of dentistry and oral healthcare.
The association also presented a Shield of Appreciation to Dr. Irfan Qureshi for his professional services during the previous PDA tenure. The association highlighted that Dr. Qureshi is Pakistan’s only diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology/Implant Dentistry (ABOI/ID).
Prof. Dr. Naresh Kumar was awarded a Shield of Appreciation for his contributions as a member of the Executive Committee during the previous term of the Pakistan Dental Association. He currently serves as Dean of Dentistry at Dow Dental College Karachi.
Dr. Ghulam Ali Siyal also received a Shield of Appreciation for his services as Finance Secretary during the previous PDA tenure.
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In addition to senior dental professionals, the Pakistan Dental Association recognized institutional supporters, sponsors and allied stakeholders associated with the healthcare and dental industry.
Awards and shields were presented to Mushtaq Ahmad Shaikh, Registrar Joint Stock Companies Sindh; Ashraf Ali Ghauri, President of the Dental Traders and Manufacturers Association (DTMA); and Nasir Feroze, General Secretary DTMA, for their support and collaboration with the dental sector.
The association also acknowledged Platinum Pharmaceuticals, manufacturers of Enziclor and Niflam Mouthwash, and Pak Land, importers of Neo Biotech Implants, for supporting the Grand Dental Symposium as event sponsors.
Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court Justice Zafar Ahmed Rajput was also presented with a commemorative shield in recognition of his participation as chief guest and for administering the oath to the newly elected Pakistan Dental Association leadership.
Healthcare professionals attending the ceremony said the recognitions reflected the growing importance of leadership, academic contribution and institutional collaboration in strengthening oral healthcare systems and advancing dental education standards in Pakistan.
Public health experts note that Pakistan’s dental sector continues to face multiple challenges including workforce shortages, unequal access to oral healthcare, regulatory concerns, limited rural dental services and increasing demand for specialized dental training and advanced clinical technologies.
The awards ceremony formed part of a broader professional gathering in which senior dentists and healthcare leaders also discussed issues affecting young dentists, employment opportunities, oral healthcare policy, dental regulation and the future direction of Pakistan’s dental profession.
Dental education analysts say professional recognition initiatives by organizations such as the Pakistan Dental Association play an important role in encouraging academic excellence, clinical leadership, healthcare advocacy and collaboration between dental institutions, industry stakeholders and policymakers.
The ceremony concluded with renewed calls for stronger support for oral healthcare infrastructure, improved professional opportunities for dentists and greater recognition of oral health as an essential component of public health policy in Pakistan.
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