ISLAMABAD: Health Secretary Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik has retired after reaching the age of superannuation.

Dr Malik’s service to the country spanned over 35 years. Unesco conferred prestigious Confucius Award on him in recognition of his leadership role for the promotion of education and skill development for less-affluent and disenfranchised sections of society in 2011.

The Chinese government awarded him a ‘Certificate of Merit’ in recognition of his services for promotion of affordable quality education for the marginalised sections of the society.

The British Council appointed him British Alumni Ambassador to promote education and skills among youth. He was a visiting scholar at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is PhD in Development Economics, Public Finance and Resource Mobilization and MPhil in Economics and Politics of Development from Cambridge University.

He played an important role in the fight against Covid-19.

Talking to Dawn, he said: “Though the first case of Covid-19 was reported on February 26, we had started arrangements to deal with the virus in January. Diagnostic kits were brought from China in January and personal protective equipment (PPE) were also arranged. Moreover, to enhance the capacity of the National Institute of Health (NIH) to start testing of the virus, Rs80 million were allocated.”

“Federal and provincial leadership should lead from the front and demonstrate that what kind of precautionary measures should be adopted. Every leader and bureaucrat should wear mask during cabinet meetings, events and media briefings,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2020