Describing the demise of Professor Dr Mahmood Ahmad as a great national loss and unbridgeable chasm in the health sector in general and medical education in particular.
The Board of Governors of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) vowed to continue his mission of strengthening UHS for the promotion of medical education and research in the country.
A condolence meeting of UHS Board of Governors was held here on Wednesday. While paying rich tributes to late Professor Mahmood, UHS Vice Chancellor Professor Malik Hussain Mubbashar said that the Dr Mahmood was not just a professor of surgery, but also a professor of art and literature, architecture and political science, philosophy and economics, reformism and above all humanism.
"In the words of Bertrand Russell, three passions guided his life: Firstly, quest for knowledge, second, pain for human misery, and, third, yearning for love", he said. He faced odd circumstances, media trials and court cases very bravely and guided us to develop systems in the university on sound footings.
Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad (Retd) said that the country had lost a great patriot, a dedicated professional and a good human being, which would be missed for decades to come.
Professor Zafar Iqbal Qureshi said that Professor Mahmood was a man of many shades and colours, and a friend of friends. He added that he was always talked about the quality of medical education and created UHS for that purpose.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan's president Dr Sultan Farooqi said that Mahmood was one of the millions who were chosen by God for a cause. His services were tremendous. He contributed in the establishment of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, brought Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, on sound footing and set up University of Health Sciences for which he would be remembered for years to come.
Dr Dilawar Ali Khan said that Professor Mahmood was a successful surgeon and as a health minister played a very vital role in the consolidation of the healthcare system in the province. He was a man of guts, initiatives, ideas and conviction. The word 'impossible' was not in his dictionary. He said that now it was a duty of the board to strengthen UHS, adding that there should be no compromise on principles and procedures for academic achievements, financial management and human resource development.
The board unanimously approved the creation of a chair in the name of late Professor Mahmood Ahmad in UHS. Professor Mahmood Gold Medal was also approved for outstanding medical students. The board also thanked Punjab Governor Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) for his patronage of the university and his participation in the reference held earlier in the memory of Professor Mahmood. UHS Board of Governors also offered Fateha for the eternal peace of the departed soul.