KARACHI:Patients Aid Foundation Chairman Zahid Bashir has been awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan’s highest civilian honours, for public service in Pakistan. He was conferred the award by President Mamnoon Hussain at an event held at the Presidency.
Bashir has been at the helm of the organization since its foundation in 1990. During his time in this role, he raised a very substantial amount for public healthcare. The organization’s Vice Chairman Mushtaq Chhapra had also received the same award last year.
The Foundation is one of Pakistan’s leading healthcare organizations, which supports 1.2 million patients a year, who receive treatment at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi free of cost. It raises private philanthropic donations for the public health sector, besides being responsible for the running and maintenance of facilities such as the blood bank, the neurotrauma, radiology, oncology, ophthalmology and several others. The Foundation invests capital and manages the CyberKnife (advanced robotic cancer treatment), PET Scan, MRI, Mammography and other health facilities. It is also funding the building of many new facilities at JPMC, including the New OPD & Surgical Complex, and Jinnah Food Complex.
Bashir commented on this occasion that he had been honoured with the award which was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff and the contributions of the donors that he and the Foundation were being recognized.
JPMC Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali and Head of Radiology Department Dr Tariq Mahmood and CyberKnife cancer treatment unit were also awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for their services to the field of medicine and public service on this auspicious occasion. Dr Jamali served as the head of the emergency department at the hospital before being promoted to the executive post.