KARACHI, June 5: Dr Azhar Masood A. Faruqui, executive director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, has been reappointed by the World Health Organization as its adviser on cardiovascular diseases for a fourth time.

His reappointment for the fourth consecutive four-year term by the WHO is a rare honour for a Pakistani cardiologist as the position is usually rotated among experts from various regions of the world.

Dr Faruqui, who started postgraduate training programme in cardiology in Pakistan in 1978, has written more than 200 scientific papers and contributed chapters to cardiology books in the US, the UK, Pakistan the Geneva-based WHO.

He has held many academic appointments at home and abroad, including the honorary appointment of dean of the faculty of cardiology, College of Physicians of Pakistan. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeon, Canada, besides being a founding fellow of the Council on Clinical Cardiology, American Heart Association.