Interview with Mr. Faheem Akhoond, Founder and Publisher, Pak American Voice- President, Jamia Karachi Alumni Association Houston, United States of America
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Faheem Akhoond: I am an economist, business executive, entrepreneur, community leader, and journalist. I earned my Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Karachi in 1977. My professional career included senior management positions with Pakistan Tobacco Company and British American Tobacco, where I served as Marketing Director for Central Asia.
I moved to the United States in 2000 and have since remained actively involved in business, journalism, and community service. I am the President of the Jamia Karachi Alumni Association Houston, a nonprofit organization supporting scholarships, technology, and educational development at the University of Karachi. I am also the Founder and Publisher of Pak American Voice, a print and digital news platform serving Pakistani Americans and connecting communities through credible journalism. Additionally, I am associated with the hospitality industry as the owner of Arwa Yemeni Coffee House in Richmond, Texas.
PAGE: It is believed that a large number of private hospitals in Pakistan do not pay taxes on profits earned as they are not formally registered under the country’s taxation system. What is your perspective in this regard?
Faheem Akhoond: Pakistan’s healthcare sector requires greater transparency and accountability. Every private hospital operating as a commercial enterprise should be properly registered, maintain audited financial records, and pay taxes on its legitimate profits. Institutions genuinely operating on a charitable or nonprofit basis may qualify for tax exemptions, but those exemptions should be supported by transparent accounts and evidence of free or subsidized treatment.
Tax avoidance by profitable hospitals creates an unfair burden on compliant businesses and deprives the government of revenue needed to improve public healthcare. The solution is not excessive taxation but a simple, fair, and enforceable system that distinguishes genuine charitable institutions from profit-making businesses.
PAGE: There is a prevalent assumption that the worsening quality of care at public-sector hospitals has forced people belonging to lower-middle-income groups to pay heavily to private-sector hospitals. Do you agree with it?
Faheem Akhoond: Yes, to a considerable extent. Public hospitals remain the only realistic option for millions of Pakistanis, but many suffer from overcrowding, shortages of medicines and equipment, inadequate sanitation, long waiting times, and weak administrative oversight.
As a result, lower-middle-income families often feel compelled to approach private hospitals, even when the cost is beyond their means. A serious illness can consume a family’s savings or push it into debt. Pakistan must strengthen public hospitals through better management, regular monitoring, adequate funding, and accountability. Quality healthcare should be treated as a basic public necessity rather than a privilege available only to those who can afford it.
PAGE: There is shortage of specialised doctors in government hospitals as postgraduate medical practitioners prefer going abroad or working in the private sector due to meagre salaries offered by the government. How would you comment on it?
Faheem Akhoond: Pakistan invests substantial resources in educating and training doctors but continues to lose many talented professionals because of low salaries, demanding working conditions, limited research opportunities, inadequate facilities, and uncertain career progression.
Financial compensation is important, but professional respect, workplace safety, merit-based promotions, modern equipment, and opportunities for specialization are equally necessary. The government should introduce competitive compensation packages and incentives for specialists serving in rural and underserved areas. Pakistan must create an environment in which doctors see a secure and rewarding future at home. Restrictions alone will not prevent the brain drain; better opportunities will.
PAGE: What is your take on Sehat Card Plus and other such medical incentives offered to the masses?
Faheem Akhoond: Sehat Card Plus and similar initiatives are positive because they can protect low-income families from financially devastating medical expenses. However, their success depends on transparent eligibility, sufficient funding, careful regulation of participating hospitals, and timely payment of legitimate claims.
There must also be safeguards against inflated bills, unnecessary procedures, political favoritism, and misuse of public funds. Independent audits and digital monitoring should be integral parts of the program. Health cards should complement—not replace—investment in government hospitals, preventive healthcare, maternal care, vaccination, and rural medical facilities. With proper oversight and continuity, such programs can provide meaningful relief to millions of deserving citizens.