APROPOS the news report ‘Tribute paid to Aga Khan’s services’ (Oct 21). It is an honour for the Aga Khan to have received two prestigious, international acknowledgements in one year.

The Aga Khan received the Champion for Global Change Award in September at the UN Foundation’s Global Leadership dinner in New York. He was honoured in October by the Asia Society for his pioneering and charismatic service to humanity at large without distinction or discrimination.

The Aga Khan’s is a towering personality and volumes can be written about him and his foundation’s humanitarian services and socio-economic development efforts spanning all corners of the globe.

He has bridged the gap between the East and the West through education, media, health, culture, information, and capacity building services.

This year, 2017, happens to be Pakistan’s 70th birthday. Let us give thanks to Allah Almighty for this beautiful land that He has bestowed upon us and acknowledge our other heroes.

The founder of Pakistan, a luminary second to none, Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and Khanzada Liaquat Ali Khan are giants among men. Then there are thousands of other Pakistanis who have made a name for themselves and the country through their achievements.

In the field of service to humanity though there are few higher than the Aga Khan and Abdus Sattar Edhi, who have served people without distinction of caste or creed.

If we have more such people in our midst, all humanity will benefit.

Abbas R. Siddiqi

Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2017