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Prof. Bashir Ahmad
(1966 – 1994)
Founder
The Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) at Lahore General Hospital (LGH) is the largest autonomous 500-bed, state-of-the-art neuroscience healthcare facility in the region, located in Lahore, Pakistan. The institution’s history dates back to the mid-20th century when, in 1958, a piece of land on the outskirts of Lahore was allocated for a proposed beggar home. The foundation stone was laid by Her Excellency Begum Naheed Sikandar Mirza, the wife of the Governor-General of Pakistan, in February 1958.
The government later repurposed the land for healthcare services, leading to the establishment of Lahore General Hospital in 1959. The hospital’s opening ceremony was held on January 29, 1959, and was officiated by His Excellency Mr. Akhtar Hussain, the Governor of West Pakistan. Initially, LGH operated in the existing building that had originally been intended for the beggar home.
In 1966, the Department of Neurosurgery at Lahore General Hospital was established under the leadership of Professor Bashir Ahmad, who returned from Newcastle, UK, in 1964. Prior to this, he had set up the first neurosurgery department at Nishtar Hospital in Multan. The Department of Neurosurgery at LGH became the first in Punjab to offer comprehensive care for neurosurgical patients. By 1981, the department had outgrown its space in the old building and soon gained recognition for the quality of its services. In response to the increasing demand, a new neurosurgery block was completed in April 1984 to accommodate the rising number of patients.
In the mid-1980s, recognizing the growing need for specialized neurosurgical services, Professor Bashir Ahmad envisioned an autonomous institute dedicated to treating neurological disorders. His vision was approved by the authorities, and the project was given the name Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS).
Although the project was officially approved in the 1980s, it was not fully realized until 2015, when a new 10-story building with a capacity of 500 beds, two emergency operating rooms, and eight elective operation rooms was designated as PINS. During the nearly two-decade-long wait, a group of distinguished professionals, including Professors Iftikhar Ali Raja, Javed Majeed Mian, Nazir Ahmed, Tariq Salahuddin, Anjum Habib Vohra, Khalid Mahmood, Naveed Ashraf, Shahzad Shams, and Anwar Chaudhary, worked tirelessly to bring Professor Bashir Ahmad’s vision to life, overcoming various challenges and securing the financial resources needed to establish the institute.
Once the institute was operational, Professor Khalid Mahmood was appointed as the first Executive Director of PINS in 2019. Under his leadership, PINS evolved into a state-of-the-art neurosurgical center, equipped with the latest technology. He also oversaw the development of the Bashir Ahmad Auditorium, a venue for academic activities. In 2017, Professors Rizwan Masood Butt and Asif Bashir, who had returned from the United States, joined the institute. Professor Asif Bashir took over as Executive Director and Head of PINS in 2023. Under his leadership, PINS has focused on gaining international recognition for its excellence in treating neurological and spinal disorders.
During Professor Asif Bashir’s tenure, PINS established a fully functional Neuro Interventional Endovascular department, led by Professor Qasim Bashir, thereby expanding its treatment offerings. In 2023, the Neuro Endovascular & Stroke Intervention Fellowship was launched, accepting two fellows each year from Neurosurgery and Neurology. Additionally, PINS has initiated international collaborative training programs, including exchanges with residency programs in the USA, where senior residents visit PINS for hands-on experience.
Today, PINS is not only a center of excellence for neurosurgery but also integrates specialized departments in Neurology, Radiology, Pathology, and Rehabilitation. This comprehensive approach ensures that patients with neurological and spinal disorders receive top-tier diagnostic and therapeutic care.