Some stories begin long before you realise you’ve stepped into them.
For me, BIOCON’s story quietly began in August 2025, on the day of NRIC. That conference changed my relationship with responsibility forever. As the youngest member of the Organising Committee, handling tech and operations for an event of that scale was overwhelming and unforgettable. We built something that set a new benchmark for student-led conferences at my university, and in many ways, it shaped who I became afterwards.
What I didn’t know then was that the ripple effect of NRIC would lead me toward another challenge — one I hadn’t planned, but one that would become just as meaningful.
A New Beginning for a New Conference
By the end of September, the Department of Biochemistry was preparing for something ambitious: the inaugural edition of BIOCON, the national conference of the Society of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pakistan. It was a major undertaking with a lot of moving parts, a big vision, and a tight timeline — the kind of project that needs momentum, structure, and collective effort.
The HOD reached out to me after seeing my work at NRIC, and he asked me to serve as the Chief Coordinator. It was a request filled with trust, and one I hadn’t expected. I had exams approaching, and the timing wasn’t ideal, but sometimes you’re given opportunities that stretch the boundaries of what you think you can handle.
So I said yes.
Building Something From the Ground Up
BIOCON wasn’t just an event — it was a chance to create a platform that connected students, researchers, and institutions from across the country. And like all first editions of anything, it came with the kind of natural challenges that shape the identity of a conference.
There were systems to design, teams to assemble, ambassadors to recruit, and structures to build. But these challenges weren’t setbacks; they were simply the realities of crafting something new.
With the support of my co-leads Rania Usman Latif and Ali Hassan Asghar, we launched the registration infrastructure and set up a dynamic ambassador programme that reached students far beyond Lahore. Over a single weekend, we built a network of enthusiastic young people who became the conference’s voice in their own institutions.
We even went on a tour of different medical colleges in Lahore — meeting students, introducing BIOCON, and building excitement. It created a sense of ownership and community that brought the conference to life.
During all of this, I was balancing second-year MBBS studies and my upcoming exams. It wasn’t easy. But growth rarely is.
And whenever it felt heavy, I was never truly alone.
The Team That Carried BIOCON With Me
I was surrounded by people who gave their all.
Ahmad Rasheed, our Joint Secretary and a respected senior, stepped in with guidance, maturity, and calm leadership at a time when I needed it most.
Hassan Farooq, another Joint Secretary and a first-year student, surprised all of us with his work ethic and talent. He became my right hand throughout the month.
Without them, the story of BIOCON would have been completely different.
And behind the scenes, my closest friends — Ali Hassan and Ahmad Raza — kept the ambassador system running, offered emotional support, and carried the weight with me during the late-night planning sessions.
Every conference is a team effort, but this one felt like family.
The Moment Everything Came Together
BIOCON grew faster than any of us expected.
We initially thought we’d host around 600 participants.
We ended up with over 1200.
Researchers, students, and presenters travelled from across Pakistan to be part of the event. And one of the most celebrated features of BIOCON was the Biochemistry Science Project Exhibition, which showcased nearly 50 full-scale scientific innovations — models, devices, simulations, and creative interpretations of biochemical concepts from universities nationwide.
The scale, the energy, the enthusiasm — it all exceeded imagination.
When the day arrived and the halls filled with students, faculty, researchers, and project teams, there was a moment where I stood still and just watched. This wasn’t just a conference anymore. It had become a national platform for scientific creativity and collaboration.
A Quiet Moment at the End
When the final ceremony concluded and the last participant left, I finally let the weight of the month settle in. It had been intense, meaningful, exhausting, and deeply rewarding.
BIOCON shaped me in a way I didn’t expect. It taught me patience. It taught me teamwork. It taught me how to lead through moments of pressure without losing sight of the larger purpose. It taught me gratitude.
And above all, it reminded me that when you are entrusted with something bigger than yourself, Allah sends you the strength and the people you need.
BIOCON 2025 will always be the second milestone of my journey - the moment I became the youngest student in my university’s history to organise two major conferences at a national scale.
A story I never meant to write. A lesson I didn’t know I needed. And a chapter I’ll revisit for years.
