The colleagues, friends and well wishers of Lt. Gen® Fahim Ahmed Khan had been planning for some time to recognize his services for Thalassaemia over the past 20 years. The task was eventually taken in hand by Dr. Abdul Qayyum Awan, Dr. Jamal Nasir and Lt. Gen® Kamal Akbar, who sponsored a get together by mutual contribution at the Islamabad Club on 17th April 2010.

The well attended gathering of over 200 participants included the Medical elite of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, in addition to prominent social workers, Thalassaemia Patients and representators of various organizations connected with the Thalassaemia Cause. The masters of the ceremony were Dr. Abdul Qayyum Awan and Dr. Jamal Nasir, who with their delightful comments, kept the audience amused and spell bound for over two hours, during which various speakers spoke about their long association, working and personal relations with Lt. Gen® Fahim Ahmed Khan and paid rich tributes for his full time involvement in the services of Thalassaemia even at the age of 90 years and with failing health. In addition to the sponsors, the main speakers were, Lt. Gen® Mehmood ul Hassan, Lt. Gen® Arshad Mirza, Lt. Gen® Karamat A. Karamat, Maj. Gen® Masood Anwar, Dr & Mrs. Khalid Fahim, Mrs. Zeerak Shoeb, Mr. Murtaza Burhani and two patients Mr. Amjad Ali and Mr.Waseem. Also a video message received from his daughter, Mrs. Hamda Khan, from Canada, was shown on screen and was highly appreciated.

It was stressed that Lt. Gen® Fahim Ahmed Khan is the pioneer in establishing the first society for the Thalassaemics in the country in 1990 and it was through the efforts of this society and its awareness campaign, that now societies having treatment facilities have been established in all major towns of the country and the Thalassaemia Federation of Pakistan created, where he is elected as the Honorary Chairman. The treatment center which started in two rooms at the PMA House with just five patients now has its own five storied building on Tipu Road and caters for full treatment and care of over 500 patients. Facilities exist for blood donation, screening, and chelation both by injections and orally. During the year, it has used over 6000 pints of blood, about 9000 Desferal injections, Tablets Asunra and Capsules Feripro, majority of which are provided free to the patients. Prevention Programme by establishing an advisory center for premarital and expectant mothers of thalassaemia patients is also working. A quarterly newsletter is issued free for the information of patients and general public.  

Lt. Gen® Fahim Ahmed Khan was elected to the Executive Board of the Thalassaemia International Federation for four years, during 2002-2006, where his working was highly appreciated. This would be confirmed from the message received from Mr. Panos Englezos, President Thalassaemia International Federation, which reads as follow,

Dear Lt. Gen® Fahim Ahmed Khan,
I am delighted to see that you will be awarded a recognition of your work in thalassaemia. We honestly believe that you absolutely worth it. We have had a very close and beneficial collaboration through the years while on the Board.
We wish you all the best personal health and happiness to keep well and stay involved in this field.
Kindest personal regards
Panos Englezos
President TIF
The ceremony closed with the presentation of a beautiful shield to Lt. Gen® Fahim Ahmed Khan to acknowledge him as the “Living Legend” for his invaluable services for Thalassaemia over the years.