ISLAMABAD: Pakistani scientist Dr Mehmood Khan has joined the exclusive list of global professionals who have been granted Saudi citizenship, media reported.
Dr Khan is currently the CEO of the Hevolution Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on developing treatments for aging, accelerating drug development and making life-extending therapeutics available.
Dr. Khan was granted Saudi citizenship as part of Riyadh’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to attract and retain exceptional global talent to support the country’s economic and social development. This initiative started in 2021 and allows highly qualified professionals in fields such as science, medicine, culture, sports and technology to apply for citizenship.
In a 2015 interview, Dr. Khan has expressed pride in his Pakistani heritage despite not growing up in Pakistan. His professional journey includes obtaining a medical degree from the University of Liverpool Medical School and holding senior positions in various prestigious organisations. He served as CEO of Life Biosciences Inc., Vice Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer of Global R&D at PepsiCo, and President of Global R&D at Takeda Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Khan is a Fellow of 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 leading British multinational consumer goods company.
