King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Alumni honoured Professor Akhtar Sohail Chughtai honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award, at the 5th annual dinner at the University’s Library Hall, 24News HD TV channel reported on Sunday.

The Patron in Chief of this get together was Prof Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice-Chancellor KEMU and the Chief Guest of the Century Best (1960) graduate of KEMC was Prof Mahmood Ali Malik. The proceedings started with the verses from the Holy Quran. Prof Saira Afzal, Dean of Public Health and Preventive Medicine handled the stage with perfection.

Prof Khalid Masood Gondal (KEMCOLIAN 1986) welcomed the distinguished guests in the beautifully decorated historical Library Hall of Patiala Block, KEMU.

He highlighted the academic, research infrastructural development project and quality service delivery provided by the Faculty of KEMU and its seven attached hospitals, especially during the Covid-19 scenario. 

He apprised the participants that the Telemedicine Department, established at KEMU in March 2020, has provided State of the Art facility to the patients through teleconsultation from more than eighty cities in Pakistan and forty-five countries across the world.

The Vice-Chancellor also informed that the four-storied Maqbool Ahmad Block has also been completed and recently inaugurated by the Honourable Governor of Punjab. He said that it was a very huge and expensive project solely funded by a proud KEMCOLIAN of 1968, Dr Maqbool Ahmad, a renowned Ophthalmologist in the USA, with 1.6 Million US Dollars.

It is a real and excellent example of paying back to the homeland and Alma Mater. He specially mentioned the contributions of KEMCAA UK under the leadership of Dr Tabinda Dogal, Dr Athar A Saeed and Dr Tufail and KEMCAANA under the leadership of President Dr Fateh Shahzad and Prof Muhammad Aslam.

Dr Asif Mahmood Jah (KEMCOLIAN 1986), currently posted as Federal Tax Ombudsman, Islamabad, expressed that he becomes nostalgic when he visits KEMU. In this very beautiful Library Hall, they were used to appear for MBBS Professional examinations. 

The Vice-Chancellor University of Child Health Sciences, Prof Masood Sadiq, KEMCOLIAN 1987, and a renowned Paeds Cardiologist of the country felicitated Prof Khalid Masood Gondal and the Faculty of KEMU for organizing such a wonderful event. Likewise, Prof Muhammad Asghar Butt DGIR CPSP KEMCOLIAN 1984 shared his student days memories. He said that he is proud of being a KEMCOLIAN.

Dr Zahid Pervez, Ex- MS Mayo Hospital said that he has a very long association with KEMU and Mayo Hospital. He further said that he is very happy to see that KEMU is progressing by leaps and bounds under the current leadership. He declared the tenure of Prof Gondal the best, in terms of success in Research, Academic, infrastructural development and quality service delivery to the ailing humanity. 

The world-renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon, Chairman of Ghurki Trust Teaching Hospital and founder of its Spine Surgery Unit, a proud KEMCOLIAN,  in his address, expressed his felicitations to the Vice-Chancellor for upholding the glorious traditions of the very prestigious institution and maintaining the international standards in academics and research.  He further said that it is a matter of great satisfaction for him that more than 90% of faculty and professorial seats are filled with highly qualified professionals. He wished and prayed that KEMU will always maintain its highest rank in the dissemination of knowledge, research, innovation and service delivery.

The renowned Pathologist academician, teacher of teachers, very sober, smart and energetic personality and KEMCOLIAN of the year1974, Prof Akhtar Sohail Chughtai, Special Guest of the evening, in his address, thanked the Vice-Chancellor for organizing the event, getting galaxy of KEMCOLIANS together and giving the opportunity to share their old and golden memories. He was also very happy to be a part of this memorable event and said that this tradition should continue in the years to come. He also appreciated the contribution of Prof Saira Afzal and Prof Bilquis Shabbir, to uplift the standard of academics and research under the guidance and vibrant leadership of Prof Khalid Masood Gondal.

The Chief Guest of the evening Prof Mahmood Ali Malik recalled his memories. He said that he was very fond of being a student of this Institution. Allah Almighty blessed him with the opportunity. He became a student, teacher, and Professor and retired as Principal of the College. He said that Col Ilahi Bakhsh became the Ist Muslim Principal of KEMC. He was the personal physician of Founder of the Nation Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said that Prof Akhat Khan and Prof Ameer Ud Din were very good teachers and proud of the medical profession. He added that Alumni of this great institution is serving all over the world and bringing laurels to their Alma Mater and Pakistan.

On this occasion, the LifeTime Achievement Award was given to the pride of KEMC and the medical fraternity Prof Akhtar Sohail Chughtai in recognition of his meritorious services to the medical profession in general and ailing humanity in particular. The audience gave him standing evasion and clapping. Souvenirs were given to the distinguished guests. 

The Chairman Department of Surgery, a proud KEMCOLIAN 1992 and Chief Coordinator of the event Prof Syed Asghar Naqi was entrusted with the duty of vote of thanks. He thanked all the guests for sparing their valuable time, gracing the occasion with their presence and making the event memorable. He was also thankful to Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ijaz Hussain, Registrar Dr Riasat Ali, Prof Yar Muhammad and Dr Salman Kazmi who worked selflessly, day and night to make this KEMCOLIANS get together a great success.