Visit of Surgeon General of Pakistan to USA

F.P. Report

WASHINGTON D.C: Lieutenant General Nigar Johar, HI (M), Director General Medical Services (Inter Services) of Pakistan Army and Surgeon General of Pakistan was invited as Chief Guest in APPNA Spring meeting held in Oklahoma, USA on 24-27 March.

The Surgeon General was keynote speaker in the “Social Forum on Women empowerment”, which was attended by prominent members of the Pakistani-American community. The Surgeon General’s presentation was followed by a detailed Q&A session during which renowned US diplomat of Pakistani descent Dr. Shirin Tahir-Kheli also joined her on the stage.

The Surgeon General was also invited by APPNA board members to attend the APPNA Council meeting. During the meeting, the Surgeon General discussed ways and means to further strengthen Pak-US collaboration in training of personnel of Pakistan Army Medical Corps through placement in select specialties and short courses as well as participation of leading US physicians in seminars and workshops organized by Pakistan Army Medical Corps.

On 26 March, the Surgeon General attended the closing ceremony of APPNA Spring meeting as Guest of Honor. The event was also attended by the Governor of Oklahoma, Kevin Stitt and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Leslie Viguerie. She also attended events arranged by Allama Iqbal and Nishtar Medical Alumni on the sidelines of the APPNA meeting.

The Surgeon General also visited Washington DC on 28 March and called on Ambassador Masood Khan at the Embassy. She also met Major General (Dr.) Paul Friedrichs, Joint Staff Surgeon at the Pentagon. The meetings focused on further strengthening Pak-U.S. cooperation in the health sector.

Lieutenant General Nigar Johar is a national icon in Pakistan symbolizing empowerment of women. The Surgeon General’s visit provided an important opportunity to discuss further strengthening of Pak-US collaboration in health sector, especially medical training of personnel of Pakistan Army Medical Corps.

Her presence in APPNA spring meeting gave a message to the Pakistani-American community and U.S. audience about the resolute endeavors being made by Pakistan to mainstream women’s empowerment in all segments of society.