By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has achieved a historic milestone on Thursday by successfully conducting Islamabad’s first-ever robotic adrenalectomy surgery, marking a new era of surgical innovation in the country.
The groundbreaking procedure, a robotic adrenalectomy, was carried out using the advanced “Toumai” surgical robot, a state-of-the-art system developed in China.
The event formed part of a Robotic Surgery Master Class held at PIMS under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Atif Inam Shami, Head of the Department of General Surgery.
The surgery team included international robotic experts Prof. Mateen Shareef and Dr. Javed Burki from the United Kingdom, alongside senior PIMS surgeons Prof. Dr. Shamim Khan, Dr. Burhan ul Haq, and Dr. Khalid Saeed.
Together, they successfully performed a complex robotic procedure on a female patient, demonstrating the potential of robotic-assisted technology in Pakistan’s healthcare sector.
Speaking to the media, Prof. Mateen Shareef, Director of Robotic Surgery, said, “This is a historic moment for Islamabad and for Pakistan. Our mission is to make robotic surgery accessible across the country.”
He said that the government was fully supporting these initiatives, and with this technology, patients would recover faster and with minimal pain.
PIMS Executive Director, Prof. Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar, hailed the achievement as a defining moment in Pakistan’s healthcare history.
“This landmark event reflects our commitment to advancing patient care through cutting-edge technology and global collaboration. “PIMS will continue to serve as a hub for innovation and professional training in the region,” he stated.
He said, “For the first time in PIMS’ history, a robotic surgery has been successfully performed. Complex operations that were technically challenging can now be done with greater safety and accuracy.”
He added the robotic system minimizes patient discomfort and ensures faster recovery.
He said that doctors from General Surgery and Urology departments collaborated closely in the procedure, and expressed confidence that more such successful operations will follow.
Prof. Dr. Atif Inam Shami emphasized that the integration of robotic technology reflects PIMS’ commitment to innovation, patient safety, and international collaboration.
“This achievement symbolizes Pakistan’s entry into a new chapter of modern surgery. Through training, workshops, and partnerships with international experts, we aim to equip our surgeons with world-class skills,” he said.
The event drew widespread praise from medical professionals and young surgeons, who described it as a transformative leap for Pakistan’s healthcare system.
With this successful operation, PIMS joins the ranks of advanced medical centers across the world utilizing robotic technology — paving the way for safer, more efficient, and minimally invasive surgeries in the country.
Earlier, a workshop was conducted being part of a larger effort by the Department of General Surgery to integrate robotic-assisted techniques into Pakistan’s healthcare system, ensuring safer, more precise, and minimally invasive procedures for patients.
The summit gathered prominent international experts including Dr. Haris Khawaja (University of Oxford), Dr. Sania Majeed (New Jersey, USA), Prof. Dr. Lavrent Lyani (UAE), Dr. Aldizi (Bahrain), and Prof. Saeed (Tehran, Iran), who presented their latest research and shared insights with Pakistani surgeons.
Eminent local specialists such as Prof. Dr. Hanif, Dr. Burhan, and Dr. Adnan also contributed to the academic exchange. Prof. Dr. Rana Imran Sikandar appreciated these initiatives, expressing full institutional support for such educational activities in the future.
He emphasized that continuous learning opportunities are vital to nurturing the next generation of Pakistani surgeons. Young participants from across the country praised both the robotic surgery workshop and the bariatric summit, calling them vital platforms for exposure to global best practices in modern surgical science.
