Wajid Ali Khan Burki

Lieutenant General Wajid Ali Khan Burki MB ChB DOMS MD FCPS FRCP FRCP (Edin) FRCP(G) LL.D. (Hon) MBE CBE H.S.P (Urdu: ; 28 October 1900 – 17 January 1989) known as the Father of Medical Services in Pakistan, was both a distinguished ophthalmologist widely recognized as an expert in the field of eye care, doctor, agriculturist, diplomat, and author who was a high profile Pakistan Army Medical Corps general. Burki left a lasting legacy as the founder of the Armed Forces Pathological Laboratory, AFPGMI, Founding Chairman of the PM&DC, CPSP, and the National Health Laboratories. 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.

Burki 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, Burki prescribed 'shock treatment' for mill owners in order to make them treat their workers better.

His career began in the British IMS, after two decades of service, Roy Bucher appointed him to a committee tasked with organizing and integrating army medical services into a single corps. With the advent of WWII, Burki was given command of a field ambulance in the 5th Indian Division participating in the East African campaign and served as the acting assistant director medical services of the division in the Western Desert campaign. For his distinguished services, Burki was awarded the MBE and assumed the role of assistant director medical services for the 7th Indian Infantry Division during the Burma campaign. In this capacity, he played a crucial role in controlling the incidence of malaria and other infectious diseases among British and Indian soldiers. Burki was twice mentioned in despatches, first during the Abyssinian campaign and then for his participation in the Battle of the Admin Box; he also took part in the Battle of Imphal and Battle of Kohima. His exceptional contributions led to the award of the CBE for distinguished services.

After the Independence of Pakistan, Wajid was appointed Deputy Director General Medical Services of the Pakistan Armed Forces. In 1951, he was promoted to Director General, served as the first Surgeon General of the Pakistan Armed Forces, and was head of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps. 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 this role, he established the rural health scheme that persists today and implemented various public health initiatives, including village dispensaries, malaria and smallpox eradication, tuberculosis control, and the establishment of eye camps.

In instances of President Ayub Khan's overseas visits, Wajid assumed the role of acting President of Pakistan on multiple occasions. Notably, during Premier Nikita Khrushchev's claim in May 1960 that an American aircraft flew from Peshawar Air Station over Soviet territory for a photographic mission, Wajid, as acting President, convened an emergency meeting and denied Khrushchev's claim. In Ayub's second cabinet, Wajid served in several key ministerial roles, where he allowed many Pakistani workers to move to Britain in the 1960s, forcefully negotiating with the British government to enable free immigration. This not only benefited the Pakistani economy but also set the stage for increased immigration of Pakistanis to the Middle East. Additionally, he introduced new labor laws and created Pakistan's second labor policy.

During the Bradford smallpox outbreak of 1962, Wajid cracked down on poor vaccination and isolation practices in Karachi. Wajid 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. Wajid consistently raised this issue during meetings with British representatives in Pakistan, expressing his dismay over the physical assaults endured by Pakistani immigrants at the hands of British individuals, alongside the slander propagated by the British press against Pakistanis. 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." Wajid was considered a friend of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, with Ayub writing in his diary that Wajid would come to visit him while he was ill. Wajid had a reputation for the very competent management of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps. Burki held various distinguished roles, including being the Founding President of the CPSP, Ambassador of Pakistan to Scandinavia, Special Assistant to President Ayub Khan, Minister of Education & Scientific Research, Kashmir Affairs & Minority Affairs, Minister for Health, Labour and Social Welfare. Additionally, Burki was the Colonel Commandant of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps, Vice President of the Pakistan Red Cross, Surgeon General of the Pakistan Armed Forces, Director General Medical Services of Pakistan Armed Forces, and first Deputy Director General Medical Services of Pakistan Armed Forces.

Early life and education
Wajid Ali Burki was born in Basti Baba Khel, Jullundur, Punjab, British India on 28 October 1900, in a Sunni Muslim Ormur family to his father Khan of Baba Khel, Jehan Khan Burki, a landowner. 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.

Wajid received his early education at Government School Jullundur and Forman Christian School Jullundur (1906–16), Government College Lahore (1916-19) and then went to the United Kingdom to study medicine at the University of St. Andrews (1919–24). After graduation, Wajid began working as junior clinical assistant at the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital from 1924 to March 1925 and then as a senior clinical assistant.

Burki received his M.D. degree from University of St Andrews in 1926 and joined the Indian Medical Service. Burki worked in military hospitals at Jullundur, Bakloh, Quetta, and from 1928 to 1932 in Karachi. He returned to the UK for further studies in medicine and in 1932 obtained his DOMS degree in ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital, having trained under John Herbert Parsons and publishing three papers on exophthalmia and microphthalmia. He was then appointed as an eye specialist at the British Indian Military Hospital in Meerut.

Personal life and hobbies
Wajid married Iqbal Bano Khanum, a fellow Pashtun, in 1935 and they had five children, three sons Javed Burki, Jamshed Burki, Dr. Nausherwan K. Burki and twin daughters.

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.

British Indian Army career
Standing at 6 feet tall, 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.

During WWII, Burki's military career advanced significantly. 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. From 1941-42, he served as the acting Assistant Director of Medical Services of the division in the Western Desert campaign. In recognition of his outstanding services, Burki was awarded the MBE, promoted to full colonel in 1942, and took on the role of assistant director medical services of the 7th Indian Infantry Division in the Burma campaign. Here, he played a crucial role in controlling malaria and other diseases among British and Indian soldiers. Burki was twice mentioned in despatches, for participating in the Abyssinian campaign and Battle of the Admin Box. Burki also took part in the Battle of Imphal and Battle of Kohima and earned the CBE for distinguished services.

In April 1945, Colonel Burki was selected as Commandant I.A.M.C No. 2 Centre (North) at Lucknow.

Pakistan army career
After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, Burki and S.M.A. Faruki were the two most senior medical officers. They were assigned special numbers, with PA100001 going to S.M.A. Faruki and PA100002 to Burki.

Burki became the first deputy director of the Army Medical Corps. He was approved as Major General before partition but promoted in 1951. He was promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services and Colonel Commandant of Pakistan Army Medical Corps in 1955.

General Burki did not see eye to eye with fellow Medical Corps General Mohammad Akram.

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.

Burki also served as the Vice Prime Minister, Vice President, and acting President of Pakistan (who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Armed Forces), in President Ayub Khan's absence. He was among the founders of the to be capital city, Islamabad, forming it from a mostly barren area of land.

On 13 October 1958, Commander-in-Chief of the 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."

General Azam, General Burki, and General Khalid M. Shaikh were ordered by 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.

First Ayub Khan cabinet
Wajid played an influential role in advising and formulating the health reforms and policies of President Ayub Khan's military administration. Burki was appointed Federal Minister for Health and Social Welfare on 12 October 1958 taking oath on 28 October. Burki was pro-Western medicine and tried to ban Unani Tibb in 1959, calling it Quackery, but Hakeem Muhammad Saeed led a campaign in support of Tibb which led to President Ayub Khan passing a law legalizing Tibb and Burki withdrawing his proposal.

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.

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, Burki who was Director General of Medical Services in Pakistan, was among those offered Honorary Fellowship and was one of the nine individuals who accepted the honor.

Burki announced that Pakistan would spend $21,000,000 on family planning during the second five-year plan which was launched in 1960.

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.

Burki announced the second labour policy of Pakistan in February 1959.

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.

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.

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.

On 16 September 1960, he laid the foundation stone for the SEATO Technical Training Centre in Karachi. The same year, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. On November 1960, Burki inaugurated the Sixth All-Pakistan Medical Conference at the Pakistan Military Academy House.

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.

Burki accompanied President Ayub Khan on his visit to East Pakistan where they were received by Governor Ghulam Faruque Khan.

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.

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.

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.

Burki hosted FLOTUS Jacqueline Kennedy and her sister Lee Radziwill during their visit to Pakistan from 21–26 March 1962.

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.

Special Assistant
Burki 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.

Burki's alma mater, University of St. Andrews conferred him with an Honorary doctorate on 10 October 1962. During his visit abroad, the University of Maryland, Baltimore awarded him the LL.D on 24 October 1962.

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.

Later life, illness and death
Burki lived a quiet life after retirement and kept himself busy at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan as President.

The Ophthalmological Society of Pakistan in its meeting in 1981 awarded Burki the Ramzan Ali Syed Gold Medal presented by the Chief Guest Prince Karim Aga Khan but Burki refused it, telling the organization to award it to Prof. Raja Mumtaz, who Burki said was an institution in himself and a great anthropologist. Raja reluctantly accepted the award and was awarded officially in 1986.

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 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. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan mourned his death and General Burki was buried with full military honours.

Commemorations

 * 'The General Wajid Ali Burki Medal' is awarded to one deserving graduating student each year by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan at its convocation each year.
 * The Burki Urdu Medium School in Lahore was named after him.

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.
 * He was promoted to a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire on 13 November 1945 by King George VI in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma during World War II.