{
  "id": 986899,
  "title": "Late Dr. Tahir Shamsi Named for Sitara-i-Imtiaz",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/late-dr-tahir-shamsi-named-for-sitara-i-imtiaz",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-15T07:38:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPakistani",
    "slug": "propakistani",
    "url": "https://propakistani.pk/2026/08/15/late-dr-tahir-shamsi-named-for-sitara-i-imtiaz/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prof. Dr. Tahir Shamsi, the visionary behind Pakistan's pioneering bone marrow transplant program, has been posthumously honored with the prestigious Sitara-i-Imtiaz award for his invaluable contributions to medicine. Regretfully, Dr. Shamsi succumbed in 2021, yet his legacy continues to resonate in the medical community. A renowned hematologist and trailblazer, Dr. Shamsi is credited with introducing bone marrow transplantation in Pakistan in 1995, a procedure he performed over 650 times throughout his illustrious career. Under his guidance, Pakistan witnessed its first bone marrow transplant in October 1995, a watershed moment in the nation’s medical history. Dr. Shamsi's expertise extended beyond transplantation, encompassing stem cell therapy and blood-related ailments. His dedication to advancing medical science was evident in his establishment of the National Institute for Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation (NIBD) in 2011, where he served as director of its Stem Cell Program. Beyond his professional achievements, Dr. Shamsi's visionary thinking extended to the Covid-19 pandemic, where he suggested the potential of plasma from recovered patients as a treatment for those affected by the virus. His unwavering commitment to medicine was recognized even during his lifetime, earning him the Dow Graduates Association of North America's lifetime achievement award in 2016. Dr. Shamsi's impact was so profound that, in a remarkable year, his name joins that of Dr. Naseem Salahuddin in the civil awards, both being posthumous recipients. Other notable recipients include SICHN Executive Director Prof. Dr. Syed Jamal Raza, Battagram neurosurgeon Dr. Shah Khalid, and physician Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khurram. The awards, announced during Pakistan's Independence Day celebrations, will be ceremonially conferred on Pakistan Day, March 23, 2027.",
  "summary": "Prof. Dr. Tahir Shamsi, the pioneer of Pakistan’s bone marrow transplant program, has been named for the Sitara-i-Imtiaz posthumously in … Read More The post Late Dr. Tahir Shamsi Named for Sitara-i-Imtiaz appeared first on ProPakistani .",
  "key_points": [
    "Dr. Tahir Shamsi posthumously awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz for medical contributions",
    "Introduced bone marrow transplantation in Pakistan in 1995, performed over 650 times",
    "Established National Institute for Blood Disease and Bone Marrow Transplantation in 2011"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}