A Southlake, Texas resident and member of the Texas Physician Assistant Board holds a dual role that has raised alarms over potential foreign influence in state medical regulation.
Rao Kamran Ali, MD, serves as the USA coordinator for URAAN Pakistan, a flagship initiative of Pakistan’s Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives aimed at building a “trillion-dollar economy” by 2035.
Ali is the founder and CEO of the AdvancedCare Surgery Center and Premier Pain Centers. Ali is a double board-certified physician specializing in Physiatry and Interventional Pain Management, per LinkedIn.
Dual Role Controversy
Medical freedom advocate Dr. Mary Talley Bowden recently highlighted concerns about Ali’s position, pointing to Pakistan’s documented issues with violence against women, child marriage, and honor killings, while questioning priorities in Texas licensing amid efforts to recruit foreign doctors. Appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023 and reappointed in 2025, Ali’s involvement prompts questions about conflicts of interest in overseeing physician assistants in the Lone Star State.
“A member of the Texas Medical Board is also employed by the Pakistani government. Pakistan is famous for tolerating violence against women, child marriage, and honor killings,” Bowden said.
A member of the Texas Medical Board is also employed by the Pakistani government.
Pakistan is famous for tolerating violence against women, child marriage, and honor killings. pic.twitter.com/uv12ycIwSr
— Mary Talley Bowden MD (@MaryBowdenMD) February 26, 2026
On October 15, 2025, Pakistan Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal announced that he was appointing Ali to serve as coordinator for URAAN Pakistan in the USA. Ali thanked him for the support and pledged to promote opportunities between Pakistan and Pakistanis living in America.
“I’m truly honored to take on this responsibility as Coordinator for URAAN Pakistan in the USA,” Ali replied on X that same day. “I will do my best to promote the vision, objectives, and initiatives of URAAN Pakistan, and to strengthen collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and opportunities between Pakistan and the Pakistani diaspora in the United States.”
Thank you, Ahsan Iqbal @betterpakistan, for your trust and confidence. I’m truly honored to take on this responsibility as Coordinator for URAAN Pakistan in the USA. I will do my best to promote the vision, objectives, and initiatives of URAAN Pakistan, and to strengthen… https://t.co/PyGmKVdih1
— Rao Kamran Ali, MD (@RaoKamranAliMD) October 16, 2025
The Pakistan ministry celebrated Ali’s appointment to coordinate URAAN Pakistan in America on LinkedIn, calling him a “key figure in promoting U.S.-Pakistan collaboration in healthcare, education, and innovation.”
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott initially appointed Ali to the Texas Medical Board in September 2023. After his term expired, the governor reappointed him in April 2025 to serve until 2031.
Pakistan’s Level 3 Travel Warning: Terrorism, Crime, and Persecution Risks
The State Department placed Pakistan in January under a Level Three travel advisory, or “reconsider travel.” Officials cited terrorism, kidnapping or hostage taking, unrest, and crime.
The nation has some of the strictest Islamic blasphemy laws, which lead to widespread Christian persecution, according to the nonprofit Open Doors. The group ranks Pakistan eighth in the world for such persecution, with features like “Islamic oppression,” “clan oppression,” “dictatorial paranoia,” and “organized corruption and crime.”
Meanwhile, women and girls in Pakistan face widespread violence, including rape, murder, acid attacks, and forced marriage, according to Human Rights Watch. Some researchers estimate 1,000 women are murdered in “honor killings” each year. A 2024 study found Pakistani support for “wife beating” had been growing.
Pakistan’s Trillion-Dollar Push Reaches America
Ali is reportedly coordinating URAAN Pakistan in America.
URAAN Pakistan is a project of the Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives – aiming to address the country’s challenges, and “make Pakistan a trillion dollar economy by 2035.” It uses a five-pronged plan: exports, “e-Pakistan,” environment, energy, and equity.
Part of this plan’s commitment to “equity” includes sending graduate and post-graduate students to study agriculture, food security, and climate change in countries, including America. The project also offers an “overseas Pakistanis” summer study program that includes America.
DOCTOR Act vs. Local Docs: Bowden Calls Out Texas Board Priorities
Bowden expressed frustration with the Texas Medical Board’s recruitment of foreign doctors under HB 2038, the DOCTOR Act. She said her friend with a “spotless record” has been trying, unsuccessfully, to get a Texas medical license for more than a year.
My colleague @molsjames – who has a spotless record – has been trying for over a year to get a Texas medical license.
Meanwhile, Texas Medical Board is recruiting doctors from other countries to apply for licensure. pic.twitter.com/sMzNGyjt6h
— Mary Talley Bowden MD (@MaryBowdenMD) February 25, 2026
The Texas Medical Board reprimanded Bowden in October 2025 for trying to treat a COVID patient with Ivermectin in 2021, as The Dallas Express reported. Bowden sued the board for acting out of political animosity, and Attorney General Ken Paxton recently intervened on her behalf.
The Dallas Express contacted Ali for a comment. Although a staff member initially indicated that she would respond, no reply was received in time for publication. The Dallas Express also reached out to Abbott’s office, but did not receive a response before the publication deadline.
