College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan

The Launching ceremony dinner, hosted by the President at the Lawns of CPSP Karachi was the third important event of the day. Prof. Zafar Ullah Chaudhry, President CPSP, addressing the invited fellows and elite of the city said that he felt honored as he had the privilege to participate in the Silver Jubilee ceremonies of the College and is now leading the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee Ceremony with all of you. “I feel proud to be with you all who have assembled to celebrate this important occasion as it is the collective efforts of us and our predecessors that we have been able to carve a position of prestige and a good name for this College. This College belongs to all of us and all those who worked to make this College a remarkable institution and from which we all derive the pride and honor of belonging” said the President.

Prof. Chaudhry said that he is trying to collect all the antiques concerning the College and in this respect Dr. Badar Siddiqui, son of late Prof. M.A.H. Siddiqui has promised to give us the table around which the first Council of CPSP met. He added that the presence of Prof. S. M. Rab is a great blessing for all of us and his presence amongst us is also a matter of great privilege.

Prof. Chaudhry went on to inform that the structured training programs of the College launched in 2008 are in great demand and have been adopted by many institutions of the Middle East; Saudi’s have almost fully adopted it, while the Royal Colleges of UK, Ireland and Scotland have adopted it partially. He also added that the vet and simulating lab proposed to be added at the College will be a befitting golden jubilee gift for the future trainees of the College. “I don’t need to emphasize upon the importance of such a lab, as supervisors of the college, you all know how important the simulators are for proper and adequate training” said the President. He also informed that the College is trying to get a special postage stamp issued in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of College.

Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal, Vice President CPSP and Resident Director, Lahore in his speech thanked all the predecessors who have greatly contributed in the establishment and development of the College. He said that we are enjoying the fruits of their labor and from them we inherited and learnt how to work selflessly for the College and for the coming generations. The College earned such a great reputation that it was the first among the SARAAC countries to secure the ATLS administration program in Pakistan. Prof. Gondal informed the audience that recently he had the opportunity to be present at California get- together of ATLS where many of the delegations from sister institutions spoke highly about the administration of ATLS in Pakistan by CPSP. Indian delegation among others also highly appreciated the role of CPSP as having unified training programs in Pakistan accepted nationally and internationally.

Prof. Gondal also informed that two batches of the specialists under Executive Program have already been to Saudi Arabia and the third batch is due to leave in February.

Prof. Fariduddin Baqai of Baqai Medical University, praised the CPSP, as it was an institution that was spreading knowledge and skills. He congratulated the CPSP on its Golden Jubilee and recollected his early days when he got associated with CPSP while it was being established in 1960’s.

Prof. S. M. Rab, the only surviving founding fellow of the College recollected the days when in 1962 he at Murree along with 49 others marched to establish the CPSP.

Dr. Shahjahan Katpar congratulated the College for establishing the Dental specializations and thus promoting the specialized dentistry in Pakistan.

Earlier, Prof. Tipu Sultan, Councilor and Convener of Golden Jubilee Celebrations Committee, detailed the programs of the celebrations throughout the country. He also informed the fellows that the Council has decided to establish a Vet and simulating skills lab at the College. He appealed to all the College Fellows to donate at least Rs. 100,000/- for the establishment of this lab and thus get their names engraved forever, over a wall of honor that will be erected at the College.

Prof. Khalid Ashrafi thanked the participants.

Prof. Tipu Sultan invited all the guests to witness the fireworks and celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the College. The brilliant fireworks on the eve of the launching of Golden Jubilee Celebrations was a feast to watch.