Arif Alvi transitioned from a professional career in dentistry to the highest office in Pakistan, serving as the nation's 13th president. His path to the presidency spanned decades of political activism, beginning with student union leadership in Lahore, followed by foundational work with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and legislative service in the National Assembly.
Early Life and Academic Training
Born in Karachi on 29 July 1949, Arif Alvi was the son of a dentist who migrated from Lucknow after the partition of India. After an early expulsion from Karachi Grammar School, Alvi continued his education in Karachi before relocating to Lahore in 1967. He earned a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from De'Montmorency College of Dentistry. His advanced clinical training included a master's degree in prosthodontics from the University of Michigan in 1975 and a master's degree in orthodontics from the University of the Pacific in 1984.
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Upon returning to Pakistan, Alvi established the Alvi Dental Hospital. His professional influence extended to various international and local organizations. He served as chairman for multiple iterations of the Pakistan International Dental Conference and acted as president of the Pakistan Dental Association. By 2006, he achieved international standing within the field, serving as president of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation and as a councillor for the FDI World Dental Federation.
Political Trajectory
Alvi’s political involvement began with the Islami Jamiat Talaba student union. During a 1969 protest in Lahore, he sustained gunshot wounds, and a bullet remains in his body. He later joined Jamaat-e-Islami before resigning in 1988. In 1996, he helped establish the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. He faced several electoral defeats throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s before winning a seat in the National Assembly in 2013 and again in 2018.
Presidency
In September 2018, Alvi assumed the presidency, succeeding Mamnoon Hussain. During his tenure, he launched the Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence & Computing. His term, which concluded in March 2024, followed his election by the electoral college, where he defeated candidates Fazal-ur-Rehman and Aitzaz Ahsan. Throughout his career, he remained involved in party organizational roles, including serving as president of the Sindh chapter of his political party.
Fast facts
- Born: 29 July 1949, Karachi
- Presidential Term: 2018–2024
- Education: University of Michigan; University of the Pacific; De'Montmorency College of Dentistry
- Party Affiliation: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (founding member)
- Languages: Urdu
- Primary Profession: Dentist
Questions readers ask
Was Arif Alvi always a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf?
No, he was a founding member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in 1996 after previously being affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami.
What academic degrees did Arif Alvi hold?
He held a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from De'Montmorency College of Dentistry, a master's in prosthodontics from the University of Michigan, and a master's in orthodontics from the University of the Pacific.
