The Government College University Lahore Tuesday conferred the “Corona-Hero Awards” upon Ravian health professionals, including the late Prof Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha shaheed for their miraculous role in the containment of COVID-19 Pandemic.

A graceful ceremony was held at the University’s Bukhari Auditorium where eminent Ravians including University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Javed Akram, Akhuwat Foundation founder Dr Amjad Saqib, KEMU VC Prof Khalid Masood Gondal, Corona Experts Advisory Group Chairman Prof Dr Mahmood Shaukat, Mayo Hospital CEO Prof Dr Asad Aslam and GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi shed light on the unforgettable efforts of doctors and paramedics to bring Pakistan out of this pandemic less hurt than most other nations.

Prof Dr Bilquis Shabbir, a younger sister of the late Dr Mustafa Pasha (a famous surgeon and VC of Multan's Nishtar Medical University), received the award of her brother who laid down his life in the fight against the coronavirus.

In his address, Prof Dr Javed Akram said: “the COVID-19 pandemic is not fully over yet so many people are still needed to take precautions.”

He called upon students to adopt healthy eating and active style to improve their immunity. He asked students and teachers to avoid smoking, saying that COVID-19 proved more fatal for smokers and people suffering from obesity and diabetes.

Dr Akram discussed with Vice Chancellor Prof Zaidi a plan to initiate a post-doctorate programme of Health and Happiness at GCU. He also pledged to strengthen the GCU Health and Well-Being Center by providing doctors on rotation.

“Great institutions are not made of bricks and walls; they stand on good traditions and today Prof Zaidi has started a new great tradition in GCU with this ceremony,” Dr Akram said concluded

He said the medical profession was good only for those who had a passion to serve humanity. “You cannot become a good doctor if you are not a good human being,” he added.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Asghar Zaidi said: “Alumni’s social work, success and achievements bring glory to their alma mater, and the role played by these Ravian doctors and paramedics by putting their lives in danger is unforgettable and has filled us with great pride.”

He said the GCU has recently revived his old traditions of Durs-e-Qur’an and tutorial groups as they played a vital role in character building of their students. He also apprised the participants his four-year strategy for digitalization, infrastructure development, and to improve the quality of education and research.

Dr Amjad Saqib shared his personal experience of suffering from COVID-19 and living in lockdown, saying that it revived and strengthened his friendship with books. He said he had written a book on services of eminent Ravian philanthropist Sir Bahadur Sir Ganga Ram, and expressed his wish to launch the book at GCU.

KEMU VC Prof Khalid Masood Gondal said they had left college life a while back, but today, this ceremony had rekindled memories of their college days.

The KEMU VC said 40 percent of doctors working in hospitals suffered from COVID-19. However, he said, that Pakistan had come out of this COVID-19 pandemic only with the blessings of the Almighty Allah.

Prof Dr Asad Aslam Khan said: “the two years, I spent at the Government College Lahore played a vital role in my personality development and I can pay back the debt of my alma mater but I will do whatever I can to support this great institution.”

CEAG Chairman Prof Dr Mahmood Shaukat stressed the importance of education and research for the development of Pakistan.

Dr Abdul Basit, an eminent Ravian and the ceremony’s chief organiser, also spoke.

Later, Vice Chancellor Prof Zaidi presented awards to Prof Hafiz Ijaz, Prof Ghayyas ul Nabi Tayyab, Prof Farid A Khan, Prof Arif Siddique, Prof Mahmood Nasir Malik, Prof Safdar A Malik, Prof Rana Arshad, Prof Khursheed Khan, Prof Khalid Khan, Prof Ashraf Zia, Prof Sadat Salee m, Prof Farooq Afzal, Prof Abdul Nayee, Prof Nasir Ch, Prof Ahsan Nasim, Dr Ashfaq Rana, Dr Kamran Ch, Dr Tahir Khalil, Prof Dr Shahid Malik, Dr Ali Saqlain Haider Dr Gulraiz Zalfiqar, Dr Shahid Chugtai, Dr Salman Kazmi, Dr Nasim Mansha Goraya, Dr Hafiz M. Waseem, Dr Hafiz Tahir Latif, Dr Hafiz Wasif Dr Asad Shah and Dr Abdul Basit.