By Dr. Sohail Ansari

Army barracks constructed in 1865 got occupied by Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in 1959. There arose a need for another medical college in Karachi. The search for someone to convert the idea into reality led to Dr Khawaja Muin Ahmed. He was appointed as the head hunted Project Director and the first Principal of Sindh Medical College. SMC started functioning on 7th April 1973 in those army barracks in an old building of paediatric ward. He became a driving force in developing various dimensions of student life in SMC: education, social activities, political activism and students union.Born in Panipat, India, on 26 October 1929, Prof Khawaja Muin obtained MBBS in 1952 from Dow Medical College, securing third position. He proceeded to UK in 1959, completed MRCP in two years and returned to join DMC in 1961 as Assistant Professor of Medicine. In 1965, he served Pakistan Navy as Lt. Commander at PNS Shifa. He was transferred to Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro, in 1969, before leading the new medical college. Later, he returned back to Dow Medical College and Civil Hospital Karachi where he served as Professor of Medicine. He had a heart attack and whilst awaiting to proceed for a by pass surgery, he passed away on 23th November 1981.The Auditorium of DMC was named and dedicated to him.

(Photo credit: Ghulam Nabi Kazi and thanks to Shah Muhammad Vaquas)