25/05/2026
Dr Naseem's work on dog bite helped children across Karachi. She opened the first HIV clinic as well at LNH, a crisis we are dealing with today. She lived large and we give thanks for her science and hard work.
Inna Lillah e Wa Inna 'Ilayhi Raji'un
It is with profound sadness that we announce the tragic and sudden passing of Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, veteran infectious disease expert, who left us on 22nd May, 2026. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and colleagues.
A deeply respected infectious diseases physician, teacher, and public health advocate, she dedicated her life to caring for patients, strengthening healthcare systems, and mentoring future generations of doctors. Over the course of a remarkable career, Dr. Salahuddin became widely respected for her expertise in rabies, tuberculosis, antimicrobial resistance, and complex infectious diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
A graduate of Fatima Jinnah Medical College, she later earned board certification in Internal Medicine and specialized training in Infectious Diseases in the United States before returning to Pakistan to devote her expertise to improving healthcare at home. She had a long standing, impactful and close association with AKU, specially our department of Medicine. Her work helped shape infectious diseases into a stronger and more recognized specialty within the country’s medical community and she consistently used her voice to draw attention to preventable deaths, improve public awareness, and encourage stronger systems for vaccination and treatment.
At The Indus Hospital and Health Network, where she served in senior leadership and academic roles including Professor Emerita, Dr. Salahuddin was admired not only for her clinical excellence, but also for her humanity. Patients trusted her deeply, colleagues valued her wisdom, and students benefited from her generosity as a mentor and educator. Those who worked alongside Dr. Salahuddin often speak of her humility, compassion, discipline, and sense of purpose. She approached medicine not simply as a profession, but as a lifelong commitment to service.
Her loss will be felt profoundly across Pakistan’s healthcare and academic communities. Yet her influence will endure in the countless lives she healed, the physicians she trained, and the public health efforts she helped strengthen.
She is survived by her loving husband, Dr Iftikhar Salahuddin, an integral part of our AKU family, and their children. She will be remembered with great respect and affection by the entire medical fraternity. May her soul rest in eternal peace.
