Eight exceptional individuals whose leadership, service, and impact have helped to shape the University and the communities we serve, were honoured with Founder's Day awards. The awards were presented by Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, AKU President and Mr Zakir Mahmood, Chair of AKU Board of Trustees at a leadership appreciation dinner hosted by AKU's Human Resources department.
The Distinguished Service Award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and unwavering dedication to AKU and the communities it serves. This year, the award recognized the remarkable contributions of three outstanding individuals.
Professor Aysha Habib Khan was honoured for her pioneering work in establishing Pakistan's first comprehensive biochemical genetics service at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi. Through her efforts, early diagnosis and treatment of rare inherited disorders, including inherited metabolic disorders in newborns, are now possible.
Ali Hussaini, Senior Research Manager, was also a recipient for his impactful leadership of community health initiatives that have positively influenced the lives of thousands of youth, educators, and families. His dedication is evident in the wellness workshops, support for underprivileged children, and the establishment of senior citizen clubs across Karachi and other cities.
Finally, the late Hakim Ali Khan was recognized for his exemplary 37 years of service as Director of Facilities Management. His professional management of AKU's physical plant on Stadium Road and his leadership of diverse teams, including engineering, biomedical, housekeeping, grounds, and transport, were truly outstanding. His wife accepted the award.
The Distinguished Leadership Award acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made significant contributions within their respective fields at AKU. This year's honourees include Assistant Professor Riaz Ratansi, recognized for his groundbreaking work in pioneering the development of the Family Medicine programme in Tanzania. His leadership has laid a strong foundation for this specialty in the country.
Also receiving the award was Dr Gulzar Lakhani, Director of Metrics and Evaluation, whose dedicated work spanning over two decades has significantly enhanced quality assurance, faculty appraisal, and patient safety, leaving a lasting imprint on AKU's commitment to institutional excellence.
Three distinguished alumni were recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Awards, which celebrate AKU graduates who have made significant impacts and demonstrated outstanding achievements in their respective fields. Dr Aniqa Bano (MEd '11) was honoured for her dedicated advocacy for children with disabilities in Gilgit-Baltistan and for co-founding the Narjis Khatoon Hearing Impairment School in Skardu. Her impactful work has also earned her the Pride of Performance Award by the Government of Pakistan.
Dr Sara Saeed Khurram (MSc HPM '18), Co-Founder and CEO of Sehat Kahani, was also recognized for her innovative digital health platform that connects female doctors to underserved patients across Pakistan, now serving an impressive 1.5 million users.
Dean Salimah Walani (DipN '87, DipM '88), a global leader in maternal and child health, was celebrated for her extensive advocacy and policy work on birth defects and neonatal health, which has informed international best practices and saved countless lives. She currently serves as the Dean for AKU's School of Nursing and Midwifery in Pakistan.
