Wajid Ali Khan Burki[b] (28 October 1900 – 17 January 1989) known as the Father of Medical Services in Pakistan, was a distinguished ophthalmologist widely recognized as an expert in the field of eye care, agriculturist, diplomat, and author who was a three-star rank general of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps.

Furthermore, he was elected as the first president of the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan in 1957 and played a key role in co-founding Islamabad, the new capital city.

[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Wajid was further known for introducing Jersey cattle to Pakistan, setting up the first Wage Board for journalists in Pakistan earning him praise from them for considering their wellbeing, setting up a hospital for workers, and as a strong advocate for labourers rights, he prescribed 'shock treatment' for mill owners in order to make them treat their workers better.

In this capacity, he played a crucial role in controlling the incidence of malaria and other infectious diseases among British and Indian soldiers.

Recognized for his adept management, he was appointed as the Minister for Health and Social Welfare in the first cabinet of President Ayub Khan.

In Ayub's second cabinet, he served in several key ministerial roles, allowing many Pakistani workers to move to Britain in the 1960s and forcefully negotiating with the British government to enable free immigration.

He criticized the British Government for solely blaming and singling out Pakistani immigrants for the outbreak when India also had nearly identical levels of smallpox and why the Brits didn't hold Indians to the same standard.

He vehemently argued that "much of the anti-Pakistan agitation in Britain was due to fear of unemployment amongst British workpeople, and consequent resentment towards Pakistanis.

He had four younger brothers, youngest Abdul Shaafi Khan Burki (1916-1969) was a champion of pole vault and led the All India team to the British Empire Games in 1934.

After returning to the UK for further studies in medicine, obtained his DOMS degree in ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital in 1932, having trained under John Herbert Parsons and publishing three papers on exophthalmia and microphthalmia.

He was promoted to Lt Colonel and tasked with leading a field ambulance in the 5th Infantry Division (India) during the East African campaign from 1940-41.

[46] Wajid became the first deputy director of the Army Medical Corps and was approved as Major General before partition but promoted in 1951.

[48][49][50] On 13 October 1958, C-in-C of the Pakistan Army General Ayub Khan assigned Wajid the task of improving the efficiency of hospitals and health agencies.

Wajid had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the administration of civil hospitals in Lahore and Karachi, stating, "We must put such institutions under the charge of army officers to clean up the rot.

[56] Wajid played an influential role in advising and formulating the health reforms and policies of President Ayub Khan's military administration.

[57][58][59] He was elected the first President of the Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan on 19 December 1957 at the King Edward Medical University in Lahore, but resigned on 20 February 1959 due to commitments as Health Minister.

[29] During Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh in November 1959, she formally signed the Roll.

To commemorate this notable event in the history of the college, Wajid was among those offered Honorary Fellowship and was one of the nine individuals who accepted the honor.

[61] In 1959, as a part of a voluntary effort, the local people along with the Government of Pakistan, began a project to establish a primary health center in Shahabad, a village located about 45 miles from Peshawar.

The center, with plans for three sub-centers in neighboring villages, aimed to serve the healthcare needs of 90,000 people and provide training for new nurses.

The site, chosen by Health Minister Wajid, was strategically located on the right bank of the Indus, half a mile from the junction with the Kabul River.

[63] In 1960, he said a curb on the high birth rate was necessary to prevent food shortage across the country and that most families barely manage to subsist.

[70] A strong advocate for labourers rights, he prescribed 'shock treatment' for mill owners in order to make them treat their workers better in a speech given on 20 August 1961.

The journal highlighted that Wajid was instrumental in fostering collaboration between the Government of Pakistan and the UMSOM to establish the International Center for Medical Research and Training at the Institute of Hygiene in Lahore.

[77] Wajid was appointed as Special Assistant to President Ayub Khan on 9 June 1962, with the privileges of a minister but without a position in the cabinet, serving until 19 October 1963.

[35][80][81][82] Wajid was appointed as Ambassador of Pakistan (resident in Stockholm) to the Scandinavian countries Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and acredited to Finland, arriving in Helsinki on 21 October 1963 where he presented his letters of Credence to President Urho Kekkonen.

Despite his earlier days as a heavy smoker, he and Field Marshal Ayub Khan had quit smoking on the advice of Prof Charles Wells, who had come to Pakistan to guide the Medical Reforms Commission.

Wajid, however, chose to keep his diagnosis a secret, even from his wife, and explicitly instructed his doctors not to inform anyone, with his oldest son, Dr. Nausherwan Burki, being the only one who was aware of his condition.

On 15 January 1989, two days before his death, he had chaired a meeting at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and the news of his passing came as a shock to the medical and journalist communities, and his family who had no knowledge of his illness.