By Our Correspondent
KARACHI: First Lady of Pakistan, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, lauded the compassion and dedication of Chinese doctors in saving the lives of Pakistani children suffering from congenital heart disease.
She made these remarks in her keynote address at the Mid-Autumn Celebration titled “A Shared Beaming Moon, All United Hearts and Hands,” held at the Chinese Embassy here on Tuesday.
Speaking as the chief guest, the First Lady said the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes “harmony and unity”—values that beautifully reflect the deep friendship between Pakistan and China.
“Tonight, as the moonlight touches Islamabad and Beijing, it illuminates the path of shared prosperity, peace, and development,” Aseefa Bhutto said. “The lives of our children saved by Chinese doctors are living symbols of turning words into action. No country has extended such compassion to our people in this way, and it defines our relationship.”
At the event hosted by Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, the First Lady expressed gratitude to Prof. Dr. Pan Xiangbin and the Fuwai Hospital team for their humanitarian service.
She proposed the establishment of a Bilateral Pediatric Cardiology Partnership to enable joint surgical missions and structured medical training between the two nations; a Telemedicine and Knowledge-Sharing Network linking premier institutions, NICVD and AFIC, with China’s Fuwai Hospital for real-time consultation and joint research; an annual fellowship program to train a new generation of Pakistani specialists in pediatric cardiology and surgery in China; and a Joint Pakistan-China Centre of Excellence for Pediatric Cardiac Care—a lasting symbol of friendship, providing world-class treatment for children within Pakistan.
Recalling the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, she reiterated that “health is not a privilege but a basic right of every individual.” Quoting her mother, she added, “Leadership is about the strength of one’s convictions, the ability to endure the punches, and the energy to promote an idea.”
“As we celebrate this reunion, we also celebrate the blooming lives of our children who now have a future,” the First Lady said.
She noted that Pakistan’s National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and the Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences, which provides free liver transplants, stand as symbols of equitable and dignified healthcare.
In his address, the Chinese Ambassador welcomed the First Lady and participants, highlighting the enduring friendship between the two nations.
He paid tribute to Dr. Pan Xiangbin, Vice President of China’s Fuwai Hospital, for his extraordinary dedication in treating Pakistani children despite harsh weather and travel challenges.
Ambassador Jiang emphasized that, according to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of unity, happiness, and family reunion.
“Today, we gather as one big family under the full moon,” he said, noting that Pakistan-China cooperation in children’s cardiac care reflects their shared commitment to humanity.
He praised Mohtarma Aseefa Bhutto’s contributions to advancing women’s empowerment, education, health, and livelihoods, particularly in underprivileged areas.
“China and Pakistan are not only iron brothers but also iron sisters,” he said, adding that over 70,000 health packages had been distributed to women in Balochistan under joint initiatives.
The event also featured heartfelt speeches by parents and children who had received treatment for congenital heart disease in China, expressing gratitude to the Chinese doctors for their tireless efforts.
Delivering an online address, Dr. Pan Xiangbin said that collaboration between Chinese and Pakistani doctors would yield lasting results. “This partnership is not only about treatment; it is also a form of spiritual healing,” he remarked, emphasizing the shared belief in “teaching a man how to fish instead of feeding him a fish every day.”
