Special Correspondent
Islamabad: First Lady of Pakistan, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, has lauded the compassion and commitment of Chinese doctors for saving the lives of Pakistani children suffering from congenital heart disease, describing their service as a “living symbol of friendship and humanity.”
She made these remarks while addressing the Mid-Autumn Celebration titled “A Shared Beaming Moon, All United Hearts and Hands,” hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Celebrating Unity and Lifesaving Friendship
Speaking as the chief guest, the First Lady said that the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes “harmony and unity”—values that mirror the depth of Pakistan-China friendship.
“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.”
She paid special tribute to Prof. Dr. Pan Xiangbin and his team from China’s Fuwai Hospital for their humanitarian service and selfless medical missions in Pakistan.
Proposal for Joint Pediatric Cardiology Collaboration
Highlighting the need to strengthen medical cooperation, the First Lady proposed establishing a Bilateral Pediatric Cardiology Partnership between Pakistan and China.
Her proposal includes:
- Joint surgical missions and structured medical training programs between both countries.
- A Telemedicine and Knowledge-Sharing Network linking Pakistan’s National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC) with Fuwai Hospital for real-time consultation and joint research.
- An annual fellowship program for Pakistani doctors to train in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery in China.
- A Joint Pakistan–China Centre of Excellence for Pediatric Cardiac Care—a permanent symbol of friendship offering world-class treatment to children within Pakistan.
Honoring Benazir Bhutto’s Vision for Equitable Healthcare
Recalling the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the First Lady said, “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,” Aseefa Bhutto said, pointing to Pakistan’s NICVD and Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences as examples of free and equitable healthcare initiatives.
China’s Commitment to Health and Humanity
Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong, in his address, welcomed the First Lady and participants, calling the Pakistan–China partnership in pediatric cardiac care a “shining example of shared humanity.”
He praised Dr. Pan Xiangbin, Vice President of Fuwai Hospital, for his extraordinary dedication in treating Pakistani children “despite harsh weather and long travel.”
Ambassador Jiang said that the Mid-Autumn Festival represents unity, happiness, and family reunion according to the Chinese lunar calendar. “Today, we gather as one big family under the full moon,” he remarked.
He also lauded Mohtarma Aseefa Bhutto for her work in women’s empowerment, health, and education, saying: “China and Pakistan are not only iron brothers but also iron sisters.” He noted that over 70,000 health packages had been distributed to women in Balochistan through joint initiatives.
Families Express Gratitude, Doctors Renew Commitment
The event also featured moving speeches by parents and children who had received life-saving treatment for congenital heart disease in China, expressing heartfelt gratitude to Chinese doctors for their compassion and care.
Delivering an online address, Dr. Pan Xiangbin said the collaboration between Chinese and Pakistani doctors would yield “lasting and transformative results.”
“This partnership is not only about treatment; it is also a form of spiritual healing,” he said, emphasizing the shared belief in ‘teaching a man how to fish instead of feeding him a fish every day’.
