There are some people one meets in life with whom affection and closeness develop almost instantly. In such relationships, age and formal ties quietly recede, giving way to warmth, ease, and a sense of belonging. Conversations become effortless, friendship becomes natural, and bonds deepen over time. Such connections do not end with departure; if anything, they become more deeply felt after a loved one returns to his Creator.
Gauhar was one such person.
I first met him formally when he married my niece, Dr. Zareen. What began as a family relationship soon grew into a bond of affection and friendship. I would often fondly call him Gauhar mian—a reflection of the warmth and informality that defined our relationship. Over the years, he became one of those rare people with whom one could speak about anything and everything. We shared conversations filled with humour, politics, medicine, family matters, and life itself.
Born in Karachi in 1960, Gauhar was the eldest among four siblings. His educational journey reflected the same discipline and excellence that later became the hallmark of his professional life. He studied at Cadet College Petaro from 1973 to 1978 and passed out with flying colours. He then joined Dow Medical College in 1978 to pursue medicine. Driven by a desire to excel, he later continued his education in the United Kingdom, specialising in Tropical Medicine at the University of Liverpool and Dermatology at Cardiff University, where he also completed his MSc in Dermatology. He eventually returned to Karachi and built what would become one of the most respected dermatology practices in the country.
Yet professional accomplishments alone do not define a person.
Dr. Gauhar Alam earned admiration not merely because he was an accomplished dermatologist, but because he remained deeply human. Patients sought him not only for treatment but for reassurance, empathy, and honesty. He had the rare ability to make people feel heard and cared for. No matter how occupied he was, he always found time for those who needed his advice.
His kindness extended well beyond his clinic.
As a son, husband, father, relative, and friend, Gauhar carried the same generosity of spirit into every relationship. He possessed a remarkable sense of humour and an infectious optimism that could lighten even difficult moments. He showed up for people—not in grand gestures, but in countless meaningful ways.
Even during illness, his spirit remained intact. He continued to joke, stayed connected with friends and family, and maintained the same concern for others that had defined his life.
His passing has left a profound emptiness for all who knew him. Yet, like all truly remarkable people, he leaves behind something enduring—not only memories, but an example. Through his life, Gauhar reminded us to live with grace, to care deeply, to remain humble, and to never underestimate the healing power of kindness.
This was reflected in the tribute paid to him by his professional community as well.
An active member of the Dermatologists Association of Pakistan (DAP), Dr. Gauhar Alam was remembered in a reference organised in his honour at the office of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), where colleagues, friends, and family gathered to celebrate his life and contributions.
Those who spoke on the occasion were Dr. Jameel Inam Bhatti, Dr. Afzal Lodhi, Dr. Mazhar Nizam and Gauhar’s brother-in-law and noted paediatrician, Dr. Jamal Raza, and others.
Towards the end of the reference, his wife, Dr. Zareen, Chief Medical Officer at DHA Hospital, expressed her views.
For me, however, Gauhar will always remain more than his achievements, titles, or professional recognition. He will be remembered for his warmth, his laughter, his generosity of heart, and the ease with which he made people feel valued.
As Gauhar was being taken to his final resting place at the DHA graveyard, I found myself reminded of Mirza Ghalib, who, in mourning the untimely death of his son, gave voice to a grief that felt deeply familiar in that moment:
Farewell, Gauhar mian. You will remain loved, remembered, and deeply missed. 
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