Empowering Health and Sports: Dietitian Rizwan Aftab’s Mission to Serve Pakistan
KARACHI: In a country where access to healthcare and nutrition can be a challenge for many, Registered Dietitian Rizwan Aftab Ahmad is leading a unique initiative that blends healthcare, sports advocacy, and social responsibility.
At 44, Rizwan has built a vision that goes beyond business—he’s creating a legacy of service rooted in patriotism and inspired by his family’s long-standing contributions to Pakistan.
Supporting Pakistani Athletes Beyond Sponsorship
Rizwan is the driving force behind Activit, a multivitamin and multimineral supplement brand that not only promotes wellness but actively supports top-tier Pakistani athletes. Activit provides financial sponsorship, lifetime free medical treatment, and access to specialized care for sportspersons and their families.
Athletes like Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem, Paralympic medallist Haider Ali, and Commonwealth Games record-holder Nooh Dastgir Butt endorse the product. Activit also has brand ambassadors from cricket, including Salman Agha, Shan Masood, and legend Shoaib Akhtar.
But what sets Rizwan apart is his hands-on involvement in athlete care. As Director at National Hospital DHA, Lahore, he ensures that these athletes receive lifelong medical support. This includes securing world-class treatment—such as connecting Arshad Nadeem with UK-based expert Dr. Ali Bajwa, helping him recover from injuries before his historic Olympic performance.
Legacy of Service and Excellence
Rizwan’s dedication is deeply personal. His grandfather, Iftikhar Ahmed Shah, was an Olympian swimmer in 1948, while his great-great-grandfather, Raja Ghazanfar Ali Khan, served as Pakistan’s first Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Health. Rizwan is also related to renowned poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Cambridge-educated diplomat Sultan Muhammad Khan, his great-grandfather.
Rizwan, a graduate of Aitchison College and Queen’s University Canada, is also certified from Cornell University and Harvard Medical School in men’s health and dietetics.
Activit: A Vision Rooted in Accessibility and Science
Activit is more than just a supplement brand. It’s a project that took over six years to develop, involving 25 medical professionals and researchers under his company Doctors Prescribed. The aim was to offer high-quality, affordable nutrition that rivals top global products like Thorne, while remaining accessible to the average Pakistani.
He emphasized the impact of soil depletion and poor dietary intake in modern life, which makes supplementation critical. He also criticized certain competitors for including unnecessary or ineffective ingredients, and warned against counterfeit supplements in the market.
Currently, Activit is available online and in hospitals only, maintaining a controlled distribution model to ensure quality and safety.
Welfare, Not Just Business
Through the Activit Welfare Foundation, Rizwan continues to fund athletes’ participation in international events, covering travel, treatment, and other expenses often neglected by sports authorities. He believes athletes can become ambassadors for healthier living in Pakistan.
His greatest inspiration, however, remains his father, Prof. Dr. Aftab Ahmed, a pioneer of orthopedic surgery in Pakistan and founder of the National Hospital DHA Lahore.
Looking Ahead: A Mission to Put Pakistan on the Map
Rizwan’s mission is to make Activit the world’s leading multivitamin brand while uplifting Pakistan’s reputation in the global nutraceutical industry.
