KARACHI: The funeral for pioneering infectious diseases specialist Dr Naseem Salahuddin, who passed away last Friday in Morocco after battling critical injuries sustained in a road accident, will be held on Wednesday (today).

According to an announcement, the namaz-i-janaza will be offered at Masjid-i-Aisha, Khayaban-i-Ittehad, after Asr. Burial will follow at the DHA Phase 8 graveyard.

As preparations are underway for the last rites, tributes continue to pour in from all segments of society, acknowledging her remarkable contributions to the medical field, public health research and humanity.

“Dr Naseem was the embodiment of compassion, service, humility and care and a role model for the profession whose life enriched all those who came in contact with her,” shared Prof Salman Faridi, medical director at Liaquat National Hospital (LNH), where she served from the late 1980s to 2006 and established the department of infectious diseases and trained and mentored a large number of young doctors.

According to him, Dr Naseem also played a key role in strengthening academic activities at the institution. As a pioneer of infectious disease management in the country, she was instrumental in establishing the Karachi Infectious Diseases Society, which later blossomed into the Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan.

“She left a deep imprint on the minds and lives of not only her patients, but all those who worked with her. Her commitment to taking up causes to help the poor and underprivileged people was legendary and included initiatives like running a mobile school for children of deprived communities,” Dr Faridi said.

In their messages, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation’s Technical Committee on Tuberculosis for elephants Malika and Madhubala expressed their profound sorrow over her passing, describing her as a national treasure whose immense contributions to medicine, public health and animal welfare would never be forgotten.

“Dr Naseem was an amazing, kind and gentle human being, one totally invested in this country, its people and its animals. We have lost a giant, and Malika and Madhubala (or “M&M” as she affectionately called them), one of their greatest supporters,” says a statement released by KMC’s committee.

At the Indus Hospital where she was awarded with Professor Emerita in 2024, her colleagues are still recovering from the shock of her sudden departure. Yet, they are resolute that they would carry on her mission forward.

Speaking to Dawn, Aftab Gohar heading the hospital’s Rabies Prevention and Training Centre — a first of its kind centre in Pakistan set up by Dr Naseem in 2008 at the time of hospital’s inauguration — said: “Her unwavering commitment to eliminating rabies demand that we carry her mission forward with even greater passion, determination, and devotion than before — so that Dr Naseem’s dream of a rabies-free Pakistan may soon become a reality, Insha’Allah.”

Mr Aftab first met Dr Naseem 18 years ago and found her an exceptionally compassionate and immensely dignified leader; a mentor, a caring teacher, and a true humanitarian blessed with extraordinary strength of character and nerves of steel.

“In her struggle against rabies spread over 40 years, she achieved remarkable milestones: introducing modern and effective rabies prevention treatment in Pakistan, leading nationwide training initiatives for healthcare workers, and carrying out highly organised and large-scale public awareness campaigns.

“At the local, national, and international levels, she remained constantly active in efforts for rabies prevention and elimination, and took highly impactful initiatives such as One Health–Rabies Free Pakistan to advance the complete eradication of rabies,” he says.

Dr Naseem’s strong desire to bring a positive change in society and serve the underprivileged led her to start a garage school. Among the countless she supported to become a productive part of society is Sobia, who completed her studies from Szabist University a few years back and now runs a school in Kahror Pacca, Multan.

She says: “When I opened the school, Dr Naseem was happier than anyone else. She believed deeply that village children, especially girls deserved education, dignity and opportunity. The school was started with a dream to educate the poor and underprivileged children free of cost and today hundreds of children study there because people like Dr Naseem believed in us.”

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2026