LAHORE, Jan 22: The Academic Council of Post Graduate Medical Institute has proposed that a new undergraduate medical college be named after renowned Pakistani surgeon Dr Ameeruddin.

According to a handout issued on Sunday, the proposed name of college ‘Dr Ameeruddin Undergraduate Medical College’ has been referred to the Punjab Health Department for consideration.

PGMI Principal Prof Dr Tariq Salahuddin informed senior doctors about the proposed name of the college at a meeting, saying that Dr Ameer served as senior professor of surgery at Mayo Hospital at the time of partition. Dr Ameer rendered glorious services for the treatment of those who got injured at the hands of Sikhs and Hindus during migration. He was also a philanthropist.

Dr Salahuddin further said Prof Ameer sold out his residence at Gulberg to contribute to the establishment of the Department of Paediatric Surgery at Mayo Hospital.

In recognition of his services, the government awarded him with the title of Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Dr Tariq said.

Dr Ameer also served at the USA and the UK and enjoyed international fame. He was considered to be one of the top 20 surgeons of the world. Hundreds of his students were serving the ailing humanity in Pakistan and abroad.

“The Academic Council of the PGMI has decided to pay a tribute to this son of soil by naming a medical college after him,” he said. Dr Salahuddin said the new college would play an important role in stopping brain drain from Pakistan as students would prefer to join it rather than going to China or Uzbekistan because of less expenses.