KARACHI: Dr Naseem Salahuddin, a thorough infectious diseases specialist with a beautiful heart and soul that turned her into activist who championed several public health causes affecting the underserved communities in Pakistan, passed away on Friday after battling critical injuries in Morocco. She was 82.

Her sudden death left her family, friends, patients and a large number of admirers in shock and grief.

According to family sources, Dr Naseem had a car accident on Wednesday afternoon in Tangiers, Morocco. She suffered serious injuries and underwent a major surgery. Her husband, senior ENT specialist Dr Iftikhar Salahudin, who was accompanying her, had minor injuries.

Dr Salamat Kamal, a family friend, told Dawn that her daughter had reached Morocco and efforts were underway to bring the body back to Karachi by Sunday.

Renowned infectious diseases specialist remembered as a ‘mentor, visionary and inspiration for generations of doctors’

In a statement, the Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), where she was the Professor Emeritus, expressed profound grief and sorrow over her passing.

“Dr Naseem was one of Pakistan’s most distinguished infectious diseases specialists, public health advocates, researchers, and academicians. She had been associated with the IHHN since November 1, 2007, where she played a transformative role in establishing and strengthening the discipline of infectious diseases in Pakistan,” the statement reads.

Throughout her illustrious career spanning decades, Dr Naseem remained at the forefront of clinical care, infectious disease management, academic excellence, and humanitarian healthcare services.

She dedicated her life to serving underserved communities and became a pioneering force in advancing infectious diseases as a specialised field in Pakistan. She also mentored generations of physicians and healthcare professionals, many of whom continue to serve across the country and internationally.

At IHHN, Dr Naseem established and strengthened programmes focused on rabies prevention, tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant TB, HIV care, and infectious disease management.

She was internationally recognised for spearheading the Rabies Free Pakistan initiative and introducing the globally recognized “One Health” approach through mass dog vaccination, sterilisation, surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and lifesaving treatment for dog-bite victims.

Her relentless efforts brought national and international attention to rabies prevention and saved countless lives across Pakistan.

Her contributions in the fight against tuberculosis were equally significant. Dr Naseem worked extensively on multidrug-resistant TB treatment, patient-centered infectious disease care, and multinational clinical research aimed at improving treatment outcomes in Pakistan.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Naseem emerged as one of the country’s most trusted and respected medical voices. Through national media appearances, public awareness initiatives, and frontline clinical leadership, she played a vital role in educating the public, combating misinformation, and promoting science-based healthcare guidance during one of the most challenging public health crises in recent history.

She also served as principal investigator for multinational COVID-19 vaccine trials, contributing significantly to global and local research efforts.

Paying tribute to her extraordinary legacy, President of IHHN Dr Abdul Bari Khan said: “Dr Naseem Salahuddin was not only a remarkable physician and scientist, but also a deeply compassionate human being whose life was devoted to serving humanity. Her contributions to infectious diseases, rabies prevention, tuberculosis care, medical education, and public health have left an indelible mark on Pakistan’s healthcare landscape. She was a mentor, a visionary, and a source of inspiration for generations of healthcare professionals. Her loss is irreparable for IHHN and for the entire nation.”

Dr Naseem also served on the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Rabies and contributed extensively to infectious disease research and scientific literature nationally and internationally.

Her remarkable journey was defined by compassion, integrity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to humanity.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026