KARACHI, Dec 21: Currently at least 55 graduates of the Dow Medical College and 80 graduates of the Sindh Medical College are visiting Pakistan to hold various fund-raising events and to launch certain welfare projects.

Many of these physicians and surgeons are extremely sensitive people, Dr Shershah Syed of the Pakistan Medical Association told Dawn on Saturday. “This is the only reason why they are visiting Pakistan. Here they will endeavour to launch several welfare projects,” he said.

He said the alumni of both the SMC and DMC will be holding social gatherings, as well as workshops which will not only create awareness about certain diseases but will also educate the medical students.

Answering a question, Dr Syed said the DMC’s graduates had decided to donate more than $10,000 to the Patients’ Welfare Association (PWA). Similarly, they were thinking of investing millions of rupees for the establishment of a facility where optical emergencies could be handled.

He said the PMA was in constant touch with the old boys of the two medical colleges and several projects were being formulated, even finalized.

Meanwhile, the graduates of DMC were particularly active in developmental and educational activities. The association comprising the Dow graduates, known as DOGANA, was behind several uplift projects at the Civil Hospital Karachi. The association was channelling efforts and funds for these projects in an organized fashion.

A press release says that the World Association of Dow Alumni (WADA) will be launched on Monday at a function which will be held on Monday at the Dow Medical College. A series of lectures will be held from Dec 23 to 26.

Graduates of the Sindh Medical College did not want to be left behind. They will be holding a workshop, from Dec 22 to 24, at a local hotel. The aim of the workshop is to create awareness of certain ailments and also to educate the Pakistani youth.

At the workshop issues in cardiology and paediatrics will be discussed at length. The workshop, which will be held in other parts of the country as well, will be organized with the collaboration of the Association of Pakistani Physicians, North America (APPNA).

This association is also looking into ways and means of providing free healthcare to the needy Pakistanis, a member told Dawn. He said APPNA, after a gap of 13 years, was launching projects in Karachi.

Improved law and order situation in the city, he said, had enabled APPNA to think in terms of launching its projects in the mega-city. He said the prime minister of Pakistan and governor of Sindh will be taking part in its events next week.