ISLAMABAD, Sept 25 (APP): Anis Ahmed, a Pakistani student in Indonesia, returned here Sunday after recovering from multi organ failure returned here Sunday, following a two month treatment at government expense on the directive of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
Taking notice of the deteriorating medical condition of Anis at a hospital in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, the Prime Minister had directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June to bear all the expenses incurred on his treatment.
Anis, a Masters degree student of Mechanical Engineering at a university in Indonesia on the scholarship of Higher Education Commission, was diagnosed with severe diabetes that left his lungs and other vital organs stopped functioning. He also suffered a stroke, pneumonia, intestinal bleeding and acidosis (increased acid levels in blood), and remained on ventilator for 70 days at a Jakarta hospital.
Najam Khan, a cousin of Anis Ahmed, on behalf of his family
expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for taking personal interest and bearing the expenses of Anis’ treatment that helped him recover from life threatening disorders.
“It was very difficult for our family belonging to Dera Ghazi Khan to continue with the costly treatment in a foreign country. We are deeply grateful to the Prime Minister for his kind gesture,” Khan told APP, as he received Anis here at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Sunday night.
Anis travelled from Jakarta to Islamabad on a Thai Airways flight TG 349, with his boarding and lodging expenditures also borne by the government.
Najam Khan said Anis was now in better health condition. However, due to physical weakness after long illness, he was shifted on a wheelchair from aircraft to driveway.
Khan, who was also the focal person of Anis’ family in Pakistan to coordinate with the government officials in Jakarta, termed the role of Pakistan Embassy “extremely positive and helpful”.
“Ambassador Aqil Nadeem and other embassy officials throughout were very supportive,” he said.
Khan mentioned that even before taking of notice by the Prime Minister, the embassy had been taking care of Anis, who was admitted to a private hospital in Jakarta.
As the cost of treatment increased tremendously, the embassy promptly brought the matter to the notice of the government, he added.
He said the government first announced $26,000 for the treatment of Anis and later increased the limit as the expenditure significantly swelled to around $60,000.
He said the follow up physiotherapy treatment of Anis as suggested by the Indonesian doctors would be carried out in Pakistan, at the government’s expense.
Benazir Income Support Programme Chairperson Marvi Memon also visited Anis Ahmed in Jakarta hospital during her official tour in July. Prime Minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz in her messages at social media forum Twitter also highlighted the case of Anis.
