Dr. Mehmood Khan is indeed credited with being among the first Pakistani scientists to be granted Saudi citizenship. Dr. Khan is a leader in geroscience, which focuses on understanding how aging contributes to chronic diseases. His expertise seemed valuable enough for Saudi Arabia to welcome him as a citizen under their new program.
Dr. Mehmood Khan, a Pakistani scientist, has made history by becoming the first Pakistani to be granted Saudi citizenship. This honor was highlighted by the financial news portal Argaam, as reported by The News on Monday.
Dr. Khan is the CEO of Hevolution Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on developing treatments related to aging, speeding up drug development, and making these treatments more accessible to people.
Saudi Arabia decided to grant citizenship to highly skilled professionals from various fields, such as science, medicine, culture, sports, and technology, as part of its Vision 2030. This initiative started in 2021, aims to attract exceptional talent worldwide to help boost the country’s economic and social growth.
Dr. Khan’s recognition is part of this effort. Despite not growing up in Pakistan, he expressed his pride in his heritage during a 2015 interview at OPEN Silicon Valley.
Who is Dr. Mehmood Khan?
Dr. Mehmood Khan earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School in England. He has had an impressive career spanning over three decades in both corporate and medical fields.
His previous roles include:
- CEO of Life Biosciences Inc.
- Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global Research and Development at PepsiCo (2007-2019)
- President of Global Research and Development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals (2003-2008)
Dr. Khan is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the American College of Endocrinology. He served as the Chairman of the US-Pakistan Business Council from 2016 to 2019 and remains a board member of Reckitt Benckiser, a well-known British multinational consumer goods company.
This news signifies a growing trend of countries recognizing the value of scientific expertise and actively seeking to attract leading researchers. Dr. Khan’s achievement also highlights the accomplishments of Pakistani scientists on the global stage.