LAHORE: The British Council has awarded Punjab Primary and Secondary Health Special Secretary (Operation) Aon Abbas Bukhari the UK Alumni Award 2026 for Social Impact for his contribution to improving coordination between public health and education systems for children with special needs in the province.

Mr Bukhari, who is an alumnus and global ambassador of the University of Surrey, was honoured for his work associated with strengthening collaboration between the Punjab Health and Social Welfare Department, Special Education Department and specialised healthcare institutions in the province.

Prior to this intervention, services for children with special needs had been delivered through separate institutional streams, often resulting in fragmented care, delayed diagnosis and weak referral mechanisms.

Initiatives linked to Mr Bukhari’s work have focused on building formal coordination frameworks within the existing governmental structures. these include large-scale screening programmes conducted through special education institutions, supported by multidisciplinary medical teams.

The screenings enable early identification of neurological, physical and sensory issues and facilitate timely referrals for appropriate treatment of children.

The award conferred by the British Council recognises the UK alumni whose professional engagement demonstrates sustained social impact in their home countries.

According to the award organisers, the recognised initiatives show how international education and professional networks can be translated into governance outcomes.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2026