Dr. Nauman Niaz launches landmark diabetes book

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 25 May 2026 |  JP Staff Report

Dr. Nauman Niaz launched a 625-page book, Myth & Reality: Type 2 Diabetes, in Karachi's Getz Astola Auditorium, examining Pakistan's growing diabetes burden through medical evidence, social realities and patient experience to boost awareness and prevention.

Summary

KARACHI — Pakistan’s escalating diabetes crisis took center stage in Karachi this week as physician, broadcaster, and author Dr. Nauman Niaz launched Myth & Reality: Type 2 Diabetes, Disease Impact in Pakistan, a 625-page volume examining the country’s growing burden of Type 2 diabetes through medical evidence, social realities, and patient experience.

Held at the Getz Astola Auditorium in Korangi, the launch drew senior endocrinologists, clinicians, academics, athletes, cultural figures, and media personalities from across Pakistan. The evening reflected both the scale of the health emergency confronting the country and the broader national relevance of a book attempting to connect medical science with the lived realities of millions of Pakistanis.

A national health crisis in focus

Pakistan remains among the countries most affected by diabetes globally, with health experts repeatedly warning of rising rates of obesity, sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, and late diagnosis. Against that backdrop, Dr. Niaz positioned the book not simply as a clinical reference work, but as an intervention aimed at improving awareness, prevention, and public understanding.

The author said the project emerged from years spent treating patients confronting preventable complications linked to delayed diagnosis, misinformation, and inadequate health awareness. Throughout the evening, speakers emphasized that diabetes in Pakistan extends beyond medicine to encompass broader social and economic realities affecting households across the country.

The launch was hosted by Getz Pharma, which described the publication as part of broader efforts to support medical education and public health awareness. Company officials, including Deputy Managing Director Zeeshan Ahmad, Senior Vice President Ijaz Malik, Director Sales and Marketing Shoaib Khalid, and Director Corporate Narrative Building Sibtain Naqvi, attended the event alongside healthcare professionals and guests.

Getz Pharma, the number one pharmaceutical company in Pakistan and exporter of products to 40 countries worldwide, stood at the centre of this effort. Much of its spirit reflected the sensibilities of Khalid Mahmood, Executive Chairman, progressive entrepreneur, process-driven innovator, and also, perhaps less publicly, a man deeply devoted to books, art, cinema, music, calligraphy, philanthropy, and publishing itself. The launch had been shaped not by corporate obligation, but by genuine intellectual investment.

Literary launch blends medicine and public culture

The evening combined formal discussion with cultural and public engagement elements, including performances by children associated with Zindagi Trust. Hosts Dino Ali and Sunita Marshall led the red carpet segment, while Dr. Zunera Jahanzeb joined discussions connected to the book’s medical themes.

Among those attending were former Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asad Shafiq, Hasan Sardar, Samiullah, Shahid Hashmi, and singer and activist Shahzad Roy, reflecting Dr. Niaz’s longstanding association with both medicine and sports broadcasting.

For many attendees, the publication represented an unusual convergence of medical scholarship and literary narrative. Dr. Niaz, widely known in Pakistan for his work in sports broadcasting and cricket history, described the project as his first major clinical medicine book despite decades in endocrinology and metabolic disease research.

Beyond clinical medicine

Speakers at the launch repeatedly stressed that the book attempts to explain diabetes not only as a metabolic disorder but as a societal challenge linked to urbanization, processed diets, lifestyle changes, economic pressure, and healthcare access.

Attendees noted the accessible style of the work, which seeks to bridge the gap between specialist medical literature and public understanding. The book addresses misconceptions surrounding insulin, obesity, exercise, treatment adherence, and preventative care while emphasizing the importance of early intervention and sustained awareness campaigns.

Medical professionals present at the event also discussed the increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among younger populations in Pakistan, alongside associated conditions including cardiovascular disease, kidney complications, neuropathy, fatty liver disease, and stroke.

An evening shaped by reflection and responsibility

During his keynote address, Dr. Niaz spoke about the emotional and professional motivations behind the project, returning frequently to themes of mentorship, responsibility, and public education. Rather than framing the work as a personal milestone, he described it as an attempt to respond to what many physicians now consider a national public health emergency.

The event concluded with extended discussions among clinicians, academics, and guests about the need for stronger public health communication and greater investment in preventative healthcare strategies.

For many in attendance, the launch highlighted the growing role of medical publishing in Pakistan’s broader public discourse, particularly at a time when misinformation and uneven healthcare literacy continue shaping public understanding of chronic disease.

WHY THIS MATTERS: Pakistan’s diabetes burden is increasingly becoming a major public health and communication challenge, placing greater importance on accurate medical journalism, evidence-based reporting, and public awareness campaigns. For journalists and media organizations, the event also highlighted how health reporting is evolving beyond routine coverage into deeper narrative-driven storytelling that connects science with social realities.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by JournalismPakistan, based on publicly available event information, statements shared during the Karachi launch event on May 24, 2026, and publicly documented reporting on Pakistan’s diabetes burden.