In a significant push to strengthen Pakistan's contribution to global health research, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) has successfully conducted two major capacity-building workshops. These initiatives underscore the university's commitment to fostering a culture of rigorous, evidence-based scientific inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The first, a two-day workshop on Cochrane Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis held on December 4–5, 2025, was a strategic collaboration between SZABMU, Cochrane Pakistan, and the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS). This tri-institutional partnership was a visionary initiative of Prof. Dr. Tanwir Khaliq, Vice Chancellor of SZABMU, designed to provide high-impact Continuing Professional Development. Coordinated by Dr. Fauzia Haneef and Dr. Ayesha Fazal (Department of Medical Education) and Dr. Syeda Kiran Riaz (Quality Enhancement Cell), the workshop equipped faculty and researchers with hands-on skills in developing research questions, literature searching, data extraction, and using specialized software like RevMan. Maj Gen Prof. Dr. Sohail Sabir and Brig. Sikandar Hayat Khan served as a key facilitator, reinforcing the methodology behind systematic reviews. This training is a direct investment in increasing the number of high-quality, Pakistan-led Cochrane reviews, aiming to address regional health issues and enhance the country's standing in global publication databases.

Building on this momentum, SZABMU also recently hosted the Bosch Initiative for Research Diversity (BIRD) workshop on November 21–22. The comprehensive modules focused on the latest research methodologies and tools, promoting an interdisciplinary approach to empower Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) to develop innovative solutions. Approved and supported by the university administration, this workshop, organized by Dr. Syeda Kiran Riaz, aimed to enhance the collaborative capacities necessary for leading impactful research projects that ultimately benefit patients and the broader health community.

Together, these workshops represent a dual-pronged strategy by SZABMU. The Cochrane collaboration deepens expertise in synthesizing existing global evidence, while the BIRD partnership cultivates skills for generating new, diverse, and interdisciplinary research. Both initiatives are aligned with national goals to improve healthcare outcomes through science.

Prof. Dr. Tanwir Khaliq emphasized the synergistic impact: "From critically appraising global evidence with Cochrane to fostering original, diverse research with Bosch, we are building a complete ecosystem for research excellence at SZABMU. This is about empowering our academics to not only consume knowledge but to produce it, shaping both policy and practice."

By hosting these partnerships, SZABMU is proactively strengthening Pakistan's research infrastructure, positioning the nation's health professionals to lead and contribute authoritatively to both regional health solutions and the international scientific discourse.