TAXILA: Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza on Monday invited 18-year-old Muneeba Maqsood, a thalassemia patient, to serve as honorary deputy commissioner of Attock for a day.

Accompanied by her parents, Muneeba entered the deputy commissioner’s office not as a visitor, but as a symbol of resilience. Sitting on the official chair, she was briefed on administrative functions and given a ceremonial role that momentarily placed her at the heart of district governance.

Visibly emotional yet smiling with pride, Muneeba Maqsood shared words filled with hope and determination.

“Today is not just a day for me, it is a dream that I never thought I could touch. I may be living with illness, but I also carry big dreams. Sitting in this chair has given me courage to believe that life can still be beautiful, and that no dream is too far away if you keep hope alive.”

She further added: “I want to become stronger, I want to fight my illness with bravery, and I want to show other children like me that we are not weak — we are fighters with dreams.”

The most emotional moments of the day, however, came from her parents, whose eyes filled with tears as they watched their daughter realize a dream they feared life might never allow her to experience.

Her father expressed profound gratitude for the district administration, saying:

“As parents of a thalassemia patient, we live with constant uncertainty. We know our daughter faces challenges that most children never have to think about. Watching her sit in the deputy commissioner’s chair today is something we can hardly put into words. The district administration has fulfilled a dream that she had cherished for years.”

Her mother described the moment as one of the proudest days of their lives. Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Rao Atif Raza said the initiative was aimed at giving emotional strength to children to fight chronic diseases, especially thalassemia.

Earlier in the day, the Deputy Commissioner also visited the Thalassemia Centre Attock, where he met children undergoing treatment, distributed medicines, and reviewed healthcare facilities and ongoing treatment arrangements.

He assured continued administrative support for improving patient care and welfare services.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd , 2026