Distinguished Dow Medical College Faculty and Leaders who received Government of Pakistan awards
Compiled by Amin H. Karim with the help from AI
Dow Medical College, Karachi, has produced and nurtured generations of physicians, surgeons, teachers, researchers and healthcare leaders whose contributions have been recognized at the highest levels by the Government of Pakistan.
The following distinguished Dow alumni, faculty members and institutional leaders have received Government of Pakistan Civil Awards or Presidential Honors. The list includes both historic national honors and the later Imtiaz awards.
1. Prof. Dr. S. Adibul Hasan Rizvi
Dow Connection: Dow Medical College graduate; internationally recognized urologist and transplant surgeon.
Government Award: Dr. Rizvi graduated from Dow Medical College in 1960. His national honors include the Sitare-e-Imtiaz in 1991, Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2000 and Nishan-i-Imtiaz, awarded by the President of Pakistan in 201
Major Contributions:
Founder of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) and a pioneer of free renal transplantation and comprehensive urological care in Pakistan.
2. Prof. Dr. Abdul Bari Khan
Dow Connection: Dow Medical College graduate, Class of 1986.
Government Awards:
- Tamgha-e-Imtiaz — 2015
- Hilal-e-Imtiaz — 2019
Major Contributions:
Founder and President of the Indus Hospital & Health Network, which has developed one of Pakistan’s largest networks providing quality healthcare free of charge to deserving patients.
Dr. Bari is particularly distinguished as a Dow alumnus who has received two major Government of Pakistan civil awards. His 2015 Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and 2019 Hilal-e-Imtiaz are documented by Indus Hospital & Health Network.
3. Prof. A. Rahim
Dow Connection: Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dow Medical College.
Government Awards: Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam — twice Prof. A. Rahim was a major figure in Pakistani orthopaedic surgery and medical education. His two Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam awards represent important early national honors and should be included alongside the later Imtiaz awards.
4. Prof. Mahmud Ali Shah
Dow Connection: Professor and Head of Ophthalmology; Principal, Dow Medical College, 1955–1969.
Government Award: Tamgha-e-Imtiaz — 1969 Prof. Mahmud Ali Shah was one of the most influential leaders in the early history of Dow Medical College. He served as Principal for 14 years and made major contributions to ophthalmology, medical education and research.
He subsequently received the Ramzan Ali Syed Gold Medal in 1984. That honor should be listed separately because it was not a Government of Pakistan civil award.
5. Prof. Razia J. Rahimtoola
Dow Connection: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Dow Medical College.
Presidential Honor:
- Presidential Gold Medal for contributions to Pediatrics and Child Health.
Prof. Razia J. Rahimtoola should be included in the broader category of Presidential and Government Honors, but her award should not be described as a Sitara-e-Imtiaz or Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
6. Prof. Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Billoo
Dow Connection: Professor and Head of Pediatrics, Dow Medical College; later Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Karachi.
Government Award: Sitara-e-Imtiaz — 2007 Major Contributions:
Distinguished pediatrician, pediatric endocrinologist and philanthropist. He was a major contributor to pediatrics, child health and public service in Pakistan and was a founder of HANDS Pakistan.
Dr. Billoo graduated from Dow Medical College in 1959 and later served as Professor and Head of Pediatrics at Dow. His Sitara-e-Imtiaz (2007) was awarded for public service.
7. Prof. Dr. Masood Hameed Khan
Dow Connection: Professor of Medicine; Principal, Dow Medical College; Founding Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences.
Government Awards: Tamgha-e-Imtiaz — 2008 Sitara-e-Imtiaz — 2016
Prof. Dr. Masood Hameed Khan is among the most highly decorated leaders in the modern history of Dow.
His two major Presidential civil awards recognize his contributions to medicine, medical education and the development of Dow University of Health Sciences. DUHS records identify him as its Founding Vice Chancellor and specifically list both Tamgha-e-Imtiaz and Sitara-e-Imtiaz.
8. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Quraishy
Dow Connection: Dow Medical College graduate; Professor of Surgery; later Vice Chancellor, Dow University of Health Sciences.
Government Award: Tamgha-e-Imtiaz — 2020
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Quraishy made major contributions to surgery, medical education and the development of Dow University of Health Sciences.
The DUHS Annual Standardized Report identifies his Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, awarded in August 2020 by the Government of Pakistan.
9. Prof. Dr. Nabila Najam (Najum) Soomro
Dow Connection: Professor/Director, Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Dow University of Health Sciences.
Government Award: Sitara-e-Imtiaz — 2026
The Government of Pakistan’s 2026 Civil Awards list identifies her under the name Nabila Najum Soomro, with Sitara-e-Imtiaz for public service.
Her professional name is commonly rendered Nabila Najam Soomro. She represents the continuing contribution of Dow University faculty to national public service and healthcare.
10. Prof. Dr. Rana Qamar Masood
Dow Connection: Senior academic and medical leader at Dow University of Health Sciences; played a major role in the establishment and development of Dow International Medical College.
Government Award: Tamgha-e-Imtiaz — 2013
- Major Contributions:
- Established the Sarwar Zuberi Liver Centre
- Played a major role in establishing the National Institute of Liver & Gastrointestinal Diseases
- Contributed significantly to the development of Dow University of Health Sciences
- Played a key role in the establishment of Dow International Medical College
Importantly, the award year should be recorded as 2013, not 2014. The DUHS annual report states that Prof. Rana Qamar Masood received the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in 2013, and contemporary reports confirm that the award was presented on Pakistan Day, March 23, 2013, in recognition of her contributions to medical education, liver disease services and Dow University.
11. Brig. Dr. Shoaib Ahmed
Dow Connection: Dow Medical College, Class of 1983.
Government Award: Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Major Contributions:
Brig. Dr. Shoaib Ahmed is a distinguished psychiatrist and retired Brigadier who has made significant contributions to psychiatry, mental health services, medical education and rehabilitation in Pakistan.
He served as Head of the Psychiatry Department at Dow International Medical College / Dow University of Health Sciences and as Executive Director of the Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan Centre, Institute of Behavioral Sciences (IBS), DUHS. DUHS describes him as a renowned psychiatrist and identifies him as a recipient of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military).
Award-Year Note:
DUHS’s Annual Standardized Report 2016–17 records that Brig. Shoaib Ahmed received the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in March 2017.
A Proud Dow Legacy
These distinguished individuals represent different generations and disciplines within the Dow tradition—from ophthalmology, orthopaedic surgery, medicine, pediatrics and surgery to transplantation, liver disease, medical education, philanthropy and public healthcare.
Their national recognition demonstrates the extraordinary contribution of Dow Medical College and Dow University of Health Sciences to the health and welfare of Pakistan.
