ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – Dr Mehmood Khan has become the first Pakistani who has been granted Saudi citizenship under Vision 2030 endeavour, it is learnt.
Dr Khan currently serves as the chief executive officer of the Hevolution Foundation which works to increase the number of ageing-related treatments, compress the timeline of drug development and increase accessibility to therapeutics that extend a human lifespan.
The Pakistani scientist has been granted the Kingdom's citizenship after Riyadh opened its citizenship to highly-skilled professionals as part of its Vision 2030. The initiative is meant to attract and retain exceptional global talent to enhance the country's economic and social development.
According to a report, Saudi Arabia issued a royal decree in 2021 allowing people belonging to specialised fields such as science, medicine, culture, sports and technology to apply for citizenship.
A PROFILE
Dr Khan earned his medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School in England. He served in senior corporate and medical positions in a career spanning three decades.
He has previously served as Life Biosciences Inc’s CEO, vice chairman and chief scientific officer of global research and development at PepsiCo. from 2007-2019 and as the president of global research and development at Takeda Pharmaceuticals from 2003-2008.
The Pakistani scientist is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians along with the American College of Endocrinology.