Honoring the Courage of Dr. Mehr Afroz on World Organ Donation Day

13-August-2025

On August 13, SIUT held a deeply moving event to honor Dr. Mehr Afroz, Consultant Nephrologist at SIUT, for her courageous act of donating her late son Sultan Zafar’s organs after his tragic demise. The gathering, held on World Organ Donation Day, was a heartfelt tribute to both Sultan’s compassionate spirit and his mother’s extraordinary bravery.

The program began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Hafiz Taha, followed by an overview of SIUT’s deceased organ donation program presented by Dr. Murli. Attendees then watched a short film highlighting the story of Pakistan’s second deceased donor, Shamim Bano, whose decision two decades ago gave renal failure patient Ghulam Haider the gift of a healthy, dialysis-free life.

Dr. Nasir Luck spoke about organ donation from a religious perspective, sharing how SIUT has consistently worked to engage communities of different faiths by addressing religious concerns and advocating for the nobility of this life-saving act.

The hall then rose in silence as Dr. Mehr Afroz took the stage to honor the memory of her beloved son, Sultan Zafar. She shared his story—his selfless nature, his work as a volunteer at SIUT, and his compassion for dialysis patients who endured so much suffering. Sultan once remarked that if he could, he would donate a kidney to help a patient, saying, “I have two, I can live with one.” In a heartbreaking turn of fate, this wish came true after an accident claimed his life. In her moment of unimaginable grief, Dr. Mehr chose courage—donating his kidneys, which were successfully transplanted into a 40-year-old doctor and a 19-year-old girl.

Her words moved the fully packed auditorium to tears, as colleagues and SIUT leadership stood in solidarity with her.

The event continued with a brief overview of the process of becoming a deceased organ donor, followed by concluding remarks from Dr. Rehan and a heartfelt dua for Sultan Zafar.

Professor Adibul Hasan Rizvi attended the event, offering his condolences to Dr. Mehr and commending her strength. He acknowledged the immeasurable difficulty of her decision, describing it as an act of humanity that will inspire countless others.

This gathering served as a powerful reminder of the impact organ donation can have—not only in saving lives but also in carrying forward the legacy of compassion, generosity, and selflessness.