Wajid Ali Khan Burki
President Ayub Khan | |
---|---|
In office 9 June 1962 – 19 October 1963 | |
Federal Minister of Education & Scientific Research, Kashmir Affairs & Minority Affairs | |
In office 2 March 1962 – 7 June 1962 | |
Minister for Health, Labour and Social Welfare | |
In office 17 February 1960 – 7 June 1962 | |
Succeeded by | Abdul Monem Khan |
Minister for Health, Social Welfare, and Village Aid | |
In office 28 October 1958 – 17 February 1960 | |
President Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan | |
In office 19 December 1957 – 20 February 1959 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Basti Baba Khel, Punjab, British India | 28 October 1900
Died | 17 January 1989 Pakistan | (aged 88)
Cause of death | Lung cancer |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
Spouse |
Iqbal Bano (m. 1935) |
Children | 5, (including Ministry of Health [a][4] |
Battles/wars | |
Awards | |
Service number | MZ.3816[3] PA100002 |
Burki was further known for introducing
His career began in the British
After the
In instances of
During the
Early life and education
Wajid Ali Burki was born in Basti Baba Khel,
Wajid received his early education at Government School
Burki received his
Personal life and hobbies
Wajid married Iqbal Bano Khanum, a fellow
Burki was known for his strict discipline and meticulous attention to detail. Courteous in manner, he commanded total and willing obedience from those under his leadership. In retirement, he resided in Rawalpindi, reminiscing about the old days. Despite his country gentleman demeanor, he enjoyed engaging in activities like shooting and fishing. Described as an amiable and jovial person, he was frank, forthright, and outspoken. His colleagues write that "maintaining popularity with him required constant alertness and being on one's toes." He shared a wealth of fishermen tales and also contributed to cattle breeding, introducing the Jersey strain to Pakistan. Burki had a keen interest in horses and held the positions of chairman at the Rawalpindi Race Club and steward at the Jockey Club in Pakistan.[16][39]
British Indian Army career
Wajid was commissioned into the Indian Medical Service of the British Indian Army in 1926, ranking as top officer among the only four officers selected from a field of over sixty foreign qualified candidates.[42]
During
In April 1945, Colonel Burki was selected as Commandant I.A.M.C No. 2 Centre (North) at Lucknow.[43]
Pakistan army career
After the
Burki became the first deputy director of the
General Burki did not see eye to eye with fellow Medical Corps General Mohammad Akram.[27]
During the 1956 survey of Pakistan, it was reported that Burki was the Surgeon General of the Pakistan Armed Forces and was thanked along with the rest of his colleagues for their cooperation by the Nutrition Survey Team who arrived from the United States.[45][46][47]
Burki also served as the Vice Prime Minister, Vice President, and acting
He was among the founders of the to be capital city, Islamabad, forming it from a mostly barren area of land.[15]On 13 October 1958, C-in-C Pakistan Army Ayub Khan assigned General Burki the task of improving the efficiency of hospitals and health agencies. Within days, Karachi hospitals showed significant improvement, and the medical services took on a new outlook. When questioned by the press about the "new look" in medical administration, General Burki with typical candor remarked, "When a doctor becomes greedy, he is no longer a good doctor. I want to eliminate greed in the medical profession and restore it to its former position of respect and honor." 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."[51][42]
General Azam, General Burki, and General Khalid M. Shaikh were ordered by Muhammad Ayub Khan to go to President Major General Iskandar Ali Mirza and tell him to resign, which he did on 27 October 1958. On 6 November 1958, Iskandar Ali Mirza sent a secret telegram to the Secretary of State in Washington about the confrontation.[52][53][54][55]
First Ayub Khan cabinet
Wajid played an influential role in advising and formulating the health reforms and policies of
Burki 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 being busy in his position of Health Minister.[30]
During
Burki announced that Pakistan would spend $21,000,000 on family planning during the second five-year plan which was launched in 1960.[60]
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 local community donated five acres of land for the center, which received funding from the International Cooperation Administration. 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. Construction took eight months to complete. The site, chosen by Health Minister Burki, was strategically located on the right bank of the Indus, half a mile from the junction with the Kabul River.[61]
Burki announced the second labour policy of Pakistan in February 1959.[62]
In 1960, Burki 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.[63][64]
From 19 April 1960 to 25 April 1960, Burki visited Pahlavi Iran on an invitation from the Iranian Minister of Health, where he was awarded Iran's Nishan-e-Humayun award.[65]
On 1 August 1960, Burki tasked the Pakistan Army to assist in fighting cholera which had caused 200 deaths in 8 districts of West Pakistan in two months. The same month, Wajid was elected as an honorary member of the Rotary club of Pakistan.[66][67]
On 16 September 1960, he laid the foundation stone for the
A strong advocate for labourers rights, Burki prescribed 'shock treatment' for mill owners in order to make them treat their workers better in a speech given on 20 August 1961.[70]
Burki accompanied
Burki stated to the press that he had agreed to allot five seats in the medical colleges of Pakistan for students from Saudi Arabia and augment the strength of the medical mission in Saudi Arabia. Further stating that if land was allotted, Pakistan may build a hospital in Saudi Arabia.[72]
Burki received praise from the Association of American Medical Colleges in their 1962 edition of The Journal of Medical Education, for his efforts in improving medical education and community health conditions in Pakistan. The journal further stated that Burki played a key role in the collaboration between the Government of Pakistan and the UMSOM in establishing the International Center for Medical Research and Training at the Institute of Hygiene in Lahore.[73]
Hosting VPOTUS Johnson & FLOTUS Jacqueline Kennedy
On 20 May 1961, Burki welcomed Vice President of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson, Lady Bird Johnson, and Jean Kennedy Smith at Karachi airport.[72][74]
Burki hosted
Second Ayub Khan cabinet
On 17 February 1960, Burki took oath as Minister of Health, Labour, and Social Welfare. He was designated as Federal Minister of Education & Scientific Research, Kashmir Affairs & Minority Affairs on 2 March 1962.[77]
Special Assistant
Burki was appointed as Special Assistant to
Burki's alma mater,
Diplomatic career
General Burki 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.[83][84][85][86][87]
Later life, illness and death
Burki lived a quiet life after retirement and kept himself busy at the
The Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan in its meeting in 1981 awarded Burki the Ramzan Ali Syed Gold Medal presented by the Chief Guest
In 1988, Wajid noticed a persistent cough and after undergoing tests, was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 1988. Despite his earlier days as a heavy smoker, he and
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. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan mourned his death and General Burki was buried with full military honours.[1]
Commemorations
- 'The General Wajid Ali Burki Medal' is awarded to one deserving graduating student each year by the
- The Burki Urdu Medium School in Lahore was named after him.[89]
Awards and recognition
- Appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as Major, Indian Medical Service in recognition of distinguished services in the Middle East.[90]
- He was promoted to a Burma during World War II.[91]
Publications
Burki, W. A. (1961). "Ordinances passed by General Burki" (PDF). p. 77-8, 162, 185.
Burki, W. A. (April 1962). Post-Revolution Labor Policy and Planning [in Pakistan]. Eastern Worker, Bureau of Labor Publications, Karachi.[92][93]
Burki, Wajid A. (1988). Autobiography of an army doctor in British India and Pakistan. Rawalpindi: Burki House.[94]
Effective dates of promotion
Insignia | Rank | Branch | Promotion date |
---|---|---|---|
Lieutenant General |
Pakistan Army | 1955[95] | |
Major General |
Pakistan Army | 1951[95][96] | |
Brigadier | Pakistan Army | 1947[95] | |
Colonel | British Indian Army | 7 May 1946[97] | |
Lieutenant Colonel |
British Indian Army | 10 November 1945[98][99] | |
Major | British Indian Army | 1 April 1937[100][101] | |
Captain | British Indian Army | 10 May 1929[102] | |
Lieutenant | British Indian Army | 10 May 1926[103][104] |
Awards & Decorations
Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) 1942
|
Pakistan Tamgha
1947 | ||
Tamgha-e-Jamhuria
(Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956 |
1939-1945 Star
|
Africa Star | Burma Star |
Italy Star | War Medal 1939-1945
|
India Service Medal | Queen Elizabeth II
(1953) |
Notes
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