IT was sad to see the departure of Tania Aidrus and Dr Zafar Mirza from their advisory roles recently. There is no doubt regarding their capabilities and expertise which led them to reputable positions in Google and the World Health Organization. It is a matter of pride that these individuals who were reshaping the world through Google and WHO hailed from Pakistan.

I wish to reiterate a letter penned in September 2019 by Dr. Mirza ‘Don’t shoot the messenger’ published in one of the most prestigious medical journals, The Lancet. It shall always echo for a young doctor like me as to how one can professionally raise their voice globally against the atrocities committed against Kashmiris.

We have thankfully been spared what many developed countries currently are facing amid the COVID-19 crisis. Dr Mirza certainly played a pivotal role in preventing the health crisis from spiralling out of control in Pakistan.

After witnessing the short-lived curious case of Miss Tania Aidrus, any future Pakistani- American Google or Microsoft director will think many times before forfeiting a stellar international career to help Pakistan grow digitally in such times. She was our best hope for stirring waves similar to what the ‘Jio’ platforms are currently making in India and worldwide.

I hope both continue to represent Pakistan’s better norms globally.

Dr Taimoor Khalid Janjua
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2020