Dr Naseem Salahuddin, one of Pakistan’s most eminent health care professionals, tragically perished from critical injuries suffered in a road accident in Tangiers, Morocco, in May 2026 during her visit to attend a WHO conference. She was accompanied by her husband Dr Iftikhar Salahuddin, himself an eminent ENT specialist and author-photographer of several notable books. He suffered minor injuries and, fortunately, survived --- but with a profoundly grieved heart, because Naseem meant the world to him.
Soft-spoken, self-effacing, forever willing to provide valuable advice and care, respectful of the sanctity of all life, human and non-human, possessed of immutable moral strength and physical courage, she used her grounding in internal medicine to specialize in combating infectious diseases, heedless of personal vulnerability and risk. Be it dengue or Covid, be it the poor persons in dire need of sophisticated, otherwise expensive medical services or her concern for much-abused stray dogs, she facilitated access to relief and protection, to increase knowledge and banish ignorance, fear and prejudice.
To improve standards of both public and private centres as also to encourage self-care through enhanced awareness, through reduced dependence on prolonged medication.
As part of her voluntary work, she enabled access to literacy and primary education for the most deprived children through initiatives like a mobile Bus school and using her own residence to help spread the light --- and render relief to the disadvantaged. In September 1985, she and her spouse readily accepted one’s request to help conduct relief camps at remote locations in the Tharparkar arid region where our Baanhn Beli volunteers and self had earlier commenced grass -roots development work. During that visit to places without metalled roads or electricity, Naseem would examine with tenderness and detailed attention severely malnourished infants and prematurely married child-wives in acute maternal distress. In subsequent times as well, they continued extending periodic support through financial aid and consistent empathy.
Instead of continuing to build on a promising professional future in the USA, her husband and she returned to Pakistan about 50 years ago --- to contribute directly to their country’s urgent priorities.
From early association with the Aga Khan complex in Karachi to the munificent services of the Indus Hospital network, she combined attention to individual patient needs with sustained commitment to collective public interest causes --- through shared research and advocacy for the formulation of pertinent policies and programmes.
Hailing from a remarkable family deeply attached to social service , headed by her father, Mr Amirali Hoodbhoy , and her mother, Mrs Malek Hoodbhoy, her siblings include equally dedicated activists, educationists, and writers such as Samir, Pervez, Nargis, and Nafisa, whose work in their respective fields distinguishes them. Her husband is my childhood friend, Iftikhar. Both our fathers served together in the Government, earlier in Hyderabad, Deccan, and later in Pakistan.
My wife Shabnam and self fortunately also became virtual neighbours of Naseem and Iftikhar in Karachi about 20 years ago. Both these marvellous, large-hearted persons always responded promptly whenever we needed their valuable advice on health issues. Not from us, nor even from friends or close relations who we introduced them to was ever any fee accepted for their patient, priceless counsel.
Generosity of time, skills and resources were so well-reflected in their shared values. In their son Azhar and daughter Mahnaz, they have imbued attributes of compassion and intelligence.
Despite fulfilling her professional responsibilities, and her authorship of several peer-reviewed in-depth professional writings on related subjects, and her active participation in welfare and advocacy campaigns, Naseem almost always travelled with Iftikhar on meticulously planned overseas journeys to countries where ancient history and great civilisations had emerged. While her contribution to his books on Jerusalem and Persia is evident in their contents, the book titled “If Stones Could Speak: Echoes From The Past” is jointly authored by both husband and wife.
This is a truly beautiful book of images, notes and quotes which presents a panoramic portrait of humanity ‘s multiple historic landmarks --- to aptly mirror this exceptional couple’s capacity to go beyond respective, normal fields to produce a distinctive publication.
Even as one fervently believes that her soul will be forever serene, and we wish Iftikhar, their children, their grandchildren, her siblings and all their families strength to bear her loss with fortitude, we also want Dr Naseem Salahuddin’s life and work to become sources of inspiration and emulation for numerous young Pakistanis in diverse fields. 
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