I joined Saving 9 as an intern in 2018, itching to get started on grassroots projects and help underserved communities. I worked tirelessly, assisting with the management of a groundbreaking project called “Glucose Trails,” which focused on treating diabetes in rural areas through telemedicine, in collaboration with a Boston-based consultancy. We achieved rapid results and the project progressed significantly within a limited time, impacting nearly 100 diabetics without adequate access to endocrinologists.

After two months, I was offered the position of project director and entrusted with the leadership of a new initiative. We had just received a small grant from Harvard University’s Lakshmi Mittal institute to set up a professional Emergency Medical Services system in Pind Begwal, a rural community of 45,000 people near Islamabad. This village had no healthcare infrastructure, and all medical emergencies had to be transported by motorbike or taxi to the nearest city.

The city was not only an hour away, but also connected via broken or unpaved roads, which caused delays and often casualties along the way. With a small team and a limited budget of USD 5,000, we worked relentlessly for four months, training locals as Medical First Responders to operate an ambulance service that we named Maseeha, which is Urdu for “Messiah.”

We also incorporated Pakistan’s first fully female led and run ambulance system. Pind Begwal is a conservative environment, and cultural constraints prevented men from treating female patients—therefore there was an immediate need to include women in the service. Some members in the community protested, saying it would promote immodesty if women started driving freely and working alongside unmarried men in the village. But these voices were soon silenced by village elders and the political leadership, who publicly supported our initiative.

We launched the Maseeha ambulance service in January 2019, and since then, it has saved over 800 lives without a single casualty. Our local Emergency Medical Personnel (EMPs) also conducted further community-based training, providing lifesaving skills to over 400 men, women, and students from schools and madrassas, who now act as trained bystanders and have been instrumental in the success of our “Community of Care.”



In particular, this has been an excellent platform for the empowerment of local women. Employment opportunities for women are essentially non-existent in the rural areas, beyond becoming school teachers. But now they can become lifesavers, be financially independent, and unleash their true potential.

Following our success, we branched out to serve other rural communities, and in 2021, we introduced a service called Embrace, Asia’s first mental health ambulance sponsored by Columbia University.

Mental health is a taboo topic in Pakistan, with patients facing significant stigma and exclusion from society. This project was extremely challenging as there is no regulatory framework or governing body for mental health practitioners and organisations in Pakistan. Without a rulebook, laws, or standards to use as a reference—and with local authorities expressing helplessness—we created standard operating procedures adhering to international standards, and built a roster of affiliated clinics, psychiatrists, and psychologists that scrutinised and endorsed our procedures. I also had our first responders trained in psychological first aid as well as self-defence tactics, to ensure safety in case of a physical struggle.

The Embrace service has been working incredibly well, and has handled dozens of complicated emergencies in a short time.

Stepping Up as a Young Leader


Abdullah (second from right) with his LKYSPP mates

As someone passionate about finding policy solutions to healthcare access issues in low-resource countries, I chose to pursue my MPP at the LKY School because it has strong programmes associated with healthcare policy. The School's emphasis on practical education was particularly appealing to me, as I wanted the opportunity to learn about best practices and policy solutions from leading experts in the field. I also saw that the School's strong network of alumni and partnerships with government agencies, think-tanks, and international organisations would provide me with valuable opportunities for networking and career development.

However, it was the personal takeaways that were the most profound—this was my first time living away from my home country, where I was immersed in a highly competitive and challenging academic environment. Imposter syndrome hit like a truck, and I started questioning my abilities and my place amongst such brilliant individuals. This was something that I really struggled with, and it had an impact on my studies.

However, I was fortunate to take the highly popular course on Communication for Public Leadership. In my final speech for the class, I decided to address the topic of imposter syndrome. I had my classmates fill out a questionnaire and to my utter surprise, more than 60% of the respondents reported experiencing feelings associated with imposter syndrome! That’s when I realised that I wasn’t alone, and with a huge load lifted off my mind, my remaining time in Singapore became much more productive and enjoyable.

When I returned to Pakistan in 2021, I accepted a new role as the COO of Saving 9 and led a nationwide initiative to address our country’s student mental health crisis. We trained teachers from more than 100 public and low-cost private schools in psychological first aid, compassionate communication, and basic trauma response. We also ran a digital advocacy campaign reaching more than 3.4 million people, and built a coalition of over 145 organisations and individuals to lobby for the socioemotional well-being of students in Pakistan.

In 2022, I took over as the CEO of Saving 9, and am working to make our impact bigger and deeper. It would not have been possible for me to take on these responsibilities, without the lessons and growth I experienced during my tenure at LKYSPP.

My message to all young aspiring policy makers and public officials associated with LKYSPP (either as students or alumni) is this: