Committee Messages
Message from the Patron
Prof. Masood Sadiq
Vice Chancellor, University of Child Health Sciences (UCHS), Lahore
President, Pakistan Paediatric Association
It is with great warmth and pride that I welcome you to the 1st Annual Paediatric Update 2026 at the University of Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital Lahore. This inaugural national meeting, centered on the theme “Paediatric Emergencies: From Evidence to Decision,” is not only an academic milestone but also a shared commitment to the lives and wellbeing of the children we serve every day.
In paediatric emergencies, every second truly matters. Behind every clinical decision is a child, a family, and a future full of hope. Our responsibility as pediatricians and child health professionals is to ensure that our decisions are guided by the best available evidence, tempered with clinical judgment, compassion, and an understanding of the realities of our healthcare system. This conference has been thoughtfully designed to bridge that vital gap between science and bedside care.
I am particularly encouraged by the emphasis on national evidence-based guidelines, hands-on learning, and open scientific dialogue. Such platforms allow us to learn from one another, reflect on our practices, and collectively raise the standard of pediatric emergency care across Pakistan.
The University of Child Health Sciences remains deeply committed to nurturing excellence in clinical care, education, and research. Our collaboration with APPNA PEDS and the Pakistan Paediatric Association reflects our shared vision of empowering healthcare professionals and to ensure safer, better outcomes for every child.
I sincerely appreciate the dedication and hard work of the organizing committee for transforming this vision into reality. I am confident that the knowledge exchanged, connections formed, and experiences shared during this meeting will leave a lasting impact beyond these two days.
I wish you an inspiring, meaningful, and rewarding conference.
Prof. Masood Sadiq
Vice Chancellor
University of Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital, Lahore
President, Pakistan Paediatric Association
Message from the Chairperson, Organising Committee
Prof. Junaid Rashid
University of Child Health Sciences (UCHS), Lahore
On behalf of the Organising Committee, it is a privilege to welcome you to the 1st Annual Paediatric Update 2026 at the University of Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital Lahore. This inaugural conference marks an important step in our ongoing efforts to strengthen pediatric emergency care through timely, evidence-based, and practical clinical guidance.
The theme “Paediatric Emergencies: From Evidence to Decision” was carefully chosen to reflect the daily realities faced by pediatricians. Pakistan faces a unique pediatric health landscape shaped by a wide spectrum of infectious diseases, malnutrition, genetic disorders and environmental determinants. International guidelines, while valuable, often do not fully translate to our local context because of differences in culture, health-seeking practices, and available resources. There is therefore a clear need to develop context-specific, evidence-based local guidelines that can be effectively applied in low-resource healthcare settings.
This inaugural Pediatric Update is being organized in collaboration with APPNA-Pediatrics and Pakistan Pediatric Association. It has been thoughtfully designed to initiate this important process and to establish it as a continuing academic activity, focusing on common pediatric conditions and promoting uniform, practical, and equitable management strategies for children across the country. The participation of national experts, the presentation of evidence-based guidelines, and the opportunity for free paper and poster presentations reflect our commitment to academic rigor and professional development.
I sincerely thank all faculty members, collaborators, and committee members whose dedication and teamwork have made this conference possible. I also extend my gratitude to all participants for joining us and contributing to this collective learning experience.
Prof. Junaid Rashid
Pro- Vice Chancellor,
University of Child Health Sciences & The Children’s Hospital, Lahore
Message from the Chairperson, Organising Committee
Dr Safdar Sultan Khan
President APPNA Pediatrics
On behalf of APPNA Pediatrics, it is my honor to welcome you to the 1st Annual Pediatric Update 2026.
This landmark conference, themed “Pediatric Emergencies: From Evidence to Decision,” will be held March 07th-08th, 2026 in Lahore, Pakistan, with full virtual access for participants worldwide. This historic event is the result of a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding between APPNA Pediatrics, University of Child Health Sciences Lahore, and Pakistan Pediatric Association. Together, we have established a collaborative framework to advance pediatric education and improve child health outcomes across borders.
As the first national conference dedicated to evidence-based pediatric guidelines, this meeting represents a significant milestone in our collective mission. Leading experts will address critical topics in pediatric emergency care, present national guidelines, and conduct hands-on workshops designed to enhance clinical decision-making at the bedside.
The conference is CME accredited for both in-person and virtual attendees. We encourage participants to explore institutional CME fund support for registration and travel expenses.
We invite pediatricians, neonatologists, pediatric subspecialists, residents, fellows, and all child health professionals to join us in Lahore or online. Together, let us advance the standard of pediatric emergency care for children everywhere.
Safdar Sultan Khan, MD, MS
President, APPNA Pediatrics
Message from the Co-Chairperson, Organising Committee
Prof. Tipu Sultan
University of Child Health Sciences (UCHS), Lahore
It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 1st Annual Paediatric Update 2026. This conference represents a shared vision to advance pediatric emergency care by aligning clinical practice with the best available evidence, while remaining sensitive to the challenges faced by frontline healthcare providers.
Paediatric emergencies test not only our clinical knowledge but also our preparedness, teamwork, and decision-making under pressure. Through this meeting, we aim to provide practical updates, encourage critical thinking, and promote the consistent use of national guidelines that can improve outcomes for children across Pakistan.
I am particularly grateful to the distinguished faculty, organizing teams, and partner organizations whose commitment has shaped a strong and meaningful scientific program. The enthusiastic participation of clinicians, trainees, and allied health professionals reinforces the importance of such academic platforms in fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
I wish all participants a productive and enriching experience.
Prof. Tipu Sultan
Medical Director,
University of Child Health Sciences & The Children’s Hospital, Lahore
Message from the Co-Chairperson, Organising Committee
Dr. Aamer Imdad
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Iowa
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Pediatric Update 2026, a collaborative academic initiative jointly organized by the University of Child Health Sciences (UCHS), Lahore, the Pakistan Pediatric Association (PPA), and APPNA-Pediatrics.
The practice of pediatrics is evolving rapidly, driven by advances in evidence synthesis, guideline development, digital health, and innovative models of care. At the same time, pediatricians continue to face real-world challenges in translating evidence into practice—particularly in resource-constrained settings. This meeting was conceived to help bridge that gap.
Pediatric Updates 2026 is designed to be a practical, skills-focused, and forward-looking conference. Through interactive workshops, plenary sessions, and concurrent scientific sessions, we aim to strengthen capacity in evidence-based care, guideline development, quality improvement, and emerging technologies, while addressing high-priority pediatric conditions relevant to our region.
A unique feature of this meeting is its emphasis on local ownership and global collaboration. By bringing together clinicians, trainees, researchers, and educators from Pakistan and the international Pakistani pediatric community, we hope to foster sustainable partnerships that extend beyond the conference and translate into improved outcomes for children.
We warmly invite you to participate, share your experiences, and contribute to a growing community committed to advancing pediatric care through evidence, innovation, and collaboration.
I look forward to welcoming you to Lahore.
Aamer Imdad, MD, MPH
Conference Co-Chair
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Iowa
