In a first, Pakistani scientist awarded Saudi citizenship

Dr Mehmood Khan received citizenship as part of Riyadh's Vision 2030 initiative, aimed to bolster social development

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistani Scientist Dr Mehmood Khan has joined an exclusive list of global professionals granted Saudi citizenship, as reported by the media.

Dr Khan is currently the CEO of Hevolution Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on developing treatments for ageing, speeding up drug development, and making life-extending therapeutics more accessible.

Dr Khan received Saudi citizenship as part of Riyadh's Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to attract and retain exceptional global talent to bolster the country's economic and social development. This initiative began in 2021, allowing highly skilled professionals in fields such as science, medicine, culture, sports, and technology to apply for citizenship.

In a 2015 interview, Dr. Khan expressed pride in his Pakistani heritage despite not growing up in Pakistan. His professional journey includes earning a medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School and holding senior roles in various prestigious organizations. He served as CEO of Life Biosciences Inc., vice chairman and chief scientific officer of global research and development at PepsiCo, and president of global research and development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Khan is a fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians and the American College of Endocrinology. He also chaired the US-Pakistan Business Council from 2016 to 2019 and is a board member of Reckitt Benckiser, a prominent British multinational consumer goods company.