Trailblazing surgeon, JPMC Executive Director Dr Shahid Rasul passes away in Karachi

A visionary in medicine, Dr Rasul transformed patient care and introduced modern surgical practices in Pakistan

Esteemed surgeon and Executive Director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr Shahid Rasul, passed away in Karachi on Friday due to a heart attack. He was to turn 60 in March 2026 and was scheduled to retire from JPMC the same year.

Dr Rasul is survived by his wife and two sons. His funeral prayers will be offered on Saturday, November 15 (Saturday), at 1:15pm following Zuhr prayer at the JPMC’s Jamia Masjid.

Renowned for his surgical expertise and leadership, Dr Rasul played a pivotal role in transforming JPMC into a centre of medical excellence. The hospital now stands as one of the largest public-sector and teaching hospitals in Sindh.

Dr Rasul began his medical journey in Dow Medical College. After he graduated in 1994, he was appointed medical officer at JPMC. He then pursued his post-medical graduation in General Surgery at the same hospital.

Read: Remote surgery nears reality at JPMC

After earning a Fellowship of the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Pakistan, he completed higher surgical training at the Royal College of Surgeons, United Kingdom.

In August 2021, Dr Rasul was appointed as JPMC’s new executive director by the Sindh Government.

In Pakistan, Dr Rasul became widely respected for his contributions to surgical innovation and healthcare leadership. During his tenure, JPMC introduced a robotic surgery programme in 2024, becoming one of the first public hospitals in the country to introduce the modern medical practice.

According to JPMC’s Joint Director Dr Salman, Dr Rasul held a prominent global position in the field of robotic surgery. In the first year of the programme, JPMC had carried out more than 300 robotic surgeries across departments such as urology, general surgery, and gynaecology. Dr Rasul stated that none of those procedures resulted in a fatality.

It is through such pioneering work that he earned domestic, as well as international acclaim. He was awarded an honorary degree by the Royal College of Surgeons, Scotland, in acknowledgement of his contributions to surgery and medical education. Earlier this year, he also assumed the role of Adviser for Pakistan at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow.

The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) expressed profound grief over the passing of Professor Rasool, who also served as a member of NICVD’s governing body.

In a condolence statement, NICVD Executive Director Professor Tahir Saghir paid tribute to the late medical administrator, calling him “a dignified, responsible, and highly capable medical professional whose services will always be remembered with respect.”

He noted that Prof Rasool’s decades-long contribution to the healthcare sector had left an enduring impact. “The late professor’s contributions to the health sector are commendable, and his absence will be deeply felt for a long time,” he said.

Professor Saghir added that the management and faculty of NICVD stand with the bereaved family in this difficult time. “The management and faculty of NICVD share equally in the sorrow of the bereaved family,” he stated.

Offering prayers for the departed soul, he said: “May Allah Almighty grant the departed a high place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and bless the family with patience and fortitude. Ameen.”

Separately, Sindh’s Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho expressed deep sorrow over Dr Rasul’s passing. She said that his services to public health, medical education, and patient care have “left a legacy that will guide us for years to come.”

Dr Pechuho paid tribute to Dr Rasol for his leadership in JPMC, saying “he led with honesty, compassion, and a strong commitment to serving humanity.” This, Dr Pechuho said, benefited “not only the people of Sindh but those across Pakistan who rely most on our public hospitals.”

Read More: First artificial knee replacement at JPMC

The provincial health minister termed Dr Rasul’s passing “a great loss not only for the medical community but for all those whose lives were improved through the institution he strengthened.”

Meanwhile, Jamshed Hussain, Chairman of the Human Rights Council of Pakistan, also expressed grief over Dr Rasul’s passing, terming it a “significant loss for the healthcare sector.”

Dr Rasul’s legacy will continue to inspire Pakistan’s medical community, reflecting a life devoted to surgical excellence, education, and the service of humanity.