CM Punjab expresses grief on the sad demise of Dr Bashir Ahmad

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of former Principal of King Edward Medical University Lahore and renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Bashir Ahmad.

In a condolence message, the Chief Minister prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.

Prof. Bashir Ahmad was a renowned Neurosurgeon and one of the founders of Neurosurgery in Pakistan. He was born on 1st January, 1934 in Jalandhar and migrated to Pakistan at the time of partition of the subcontinent.

He was admitted to King Edward Medical College in 1952 and passed his M.B.B.S in August, 1957. A few weeks later he proceeded to England for higher studies and training in Neurosurgery at the Regional Neurosurgical Centre, Newcastle uponTyne, University of Durham. After serving in various capacities as House Surgeon, Registrar, Senior Registrar (Consultant Neurosurgeon) and on obtaining F.R.C.S he returned to Pakistan in January, 1964.

He was appointed as Assistant Professor Incharge Department of Neurosurgery at Nishtar Medical College, Multan. He became the first Neurosurgeon appointed by the then Government of West Pakistan in January, 1964 and was provided with all the latest equipment including stereo-tactic appliances. He performed the 1st stereo-tactic operation for Parkinson disease in the subcontinent in December, 1964. In March, 1966 the entire Neurosurgery Department was shifted to King Edward Medical College/Mayo Hospital, Lahore. As there was an acute shortage of beds at Mayo Hospital, he opted to established Neurosurgery Department at Lahore General Hospital which was for away from the main city. He started Neurosurgery in the old barracks of Lahore General Hospital and within a short period of time.

He managed to setup a fully equipped Neuro-Diagnostic Centre and a 150 bedded Neurosurgery unit including Neuro-Radiology, Neuro-Pathology, Neuro-physiology and Neuro-Anesthesiology, Neuro-Rehabilitation etc. The department was provided with the first CT Scan Machine installed in December, 1979, along with the latest Modulus Operation Theatre. Due to his continuous struggle and hard work he managed to establish the biggest Neuro-Surgical Centre of the country at Lahore General Hospital which has taken the shape of an institute of Neuro-Sciences.

His first resident Dr. Javaid Majeed Mian was trained by him and took his position as Prof. of Neurosurgery after his retirement. Along with his developmental work Prof. Bashir Ahmad took keen interest in training his residents. Most of his students are currently heading various Neurosurgical Centers in Pakistan and overseas and the rest are practicing consultant Neurosurgeons successfully.

Prof. Bashir was very much interested in academic and research work. He has presented Pakistan in the meetings of World Federation of Neurosurgical Society (WFNS) with his research work on various topics of Neurosurgery. He has presented over 40 papers in various National and International meetings. Prof. Bashir is the pioneer in introducing Modern technology in the Medical field in Pakistan. He is a living legend and founder of Neurosurgery in Pakistan. Service to humanity is his goal in life.He headed the Department of Neurosurgery from January, 1964 to December, 1993.

During this period he held the most distinguished academic positions as under: –

• Prof. of Neurosurgery September, 1966 to December, 1993.
• Principal King Medical Edward College, Lahore (October, 1989 to December, 1993)
• Visiting Neurosurgeon Mayo Hospital and General Hospital, Lahore.
• Consultant Neurosurgeon to Combined Military Hospital, Lahore.
• Founding Member and President Society of Neurosurgeons of Pakistan.
• President Middle East Society of Neurosurgeons.
• Visiting Neurosurgeon Garyounis University, Benghazi – Libya.
• Visiting Professor Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.
• Dean Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Punjab.
• Chairman Equivalence Committee, University of Punjab.
• Member Senate, University of Punjab.
• Granted BPS-21 in 1987 and BPS-22 in 1993.
• Recipient Pakistan President’s Award Pride of Performance in Neurosurgery, March 2000.
• Life Time Achievement Award Pakistan Society of Surgeons, March 2002.