Dr. Usama Riaz, first Pakistani doctor to die of COVID-19 on duty, awarded Sitara-i-Shujaat
Dr. Usama Riaz has been posthumously awarded Sitara-i-Shujaat (gallantry) by the President of Pakistan Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday.
He was the first Pakistani doctor to die after contracting coronavirus while screening and treating COVID-19 patients in Gilgit.
A 26-year-old physician, Dr. Osama Riaz, who screened suspected COVID-19 patients returning to Gilgit Baltistan from overseas and other parts of Pakistan passed away on 22nd of March 2020.
Dr. Riaz was part of the team of the doctors tasked with screening patients returning from downtowns, particularly those pilgrims who were arriving from Iran to Pakistan via Taftan.
He later started providing services to the suspected patients in isolation centers established for them in Gilgit.
Please say a prayer for the departed soul.