PESHAWAR: A known ophthalmologist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and founder of two public sector medical colleges, Prof Dr Ziaul Islam, has been awarded the Distinguished Services Award 2024, for his outstanding contributions to the field of medical sciences.
The award was presented at the 42nd Lahore Ophthalmolo during the congress of the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan (OSP). Ophthalmologists from across Pakistan attended the three-day conference and presented their research.
The organisers lauded Prof Ziaul Islam for his services to the ophthalmology and establishing medical teaching institutions in the public sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.Prof Ziaul Islam graduated from Khyber Medical College Peshawar in 1967, obtained DO England 1971 and FRCS Ophthalmology from Royal College of Edinburgh UK in 1976.
After retirement, he was appointed as project director to establish the Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar (2004–2007) and Bacha Khan Medical College/Bacha Khan Dental College in Mardan (2007–2015).
Both colleges are recognized as leading institutions in the province.Prof Ziaul Islam has received multiple awards, including lifetime achievement awards from various institutions. He received training in ophthalmology at Southend on Sea and Guy’s Hospital London.
He was awarded FRCOphth by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists England in 1990, FCPS by the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan in 2002, and FCPS by the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons in 2004.
He received the prestigious presidential Ramzan Ali Syed gold medal in 1998, distinguished service award at 21st Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology congress 2006 at Singapore and Susruta lecture award at 28th Apao congress at Hyderabad India 2013.
He was honoured with the lifetime achievement award by Khyber Medical College Peshawar 2010 and by College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan 2012 and was honoured professor Emeritus by Al-Shifa trust eye hospital Rawalpindi. He was also awarded lifetime achievement award and living legend award by OSP Hyderabad Pakistan and distinguished service award by OSP Quetta branch this year.