Dr. Usama Riaz to be honoured with ‘Nishan-e-Kashmir’ for fight against COVID-19

Dr. Usama Riaz, the doctor who embraced martyrdom while treating coronavirus patients in Gilgit-Baltistan, will be honoured with ‘Nishan-e-Kashmir’.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan made the announcement on Friday to give AJK’s highest official award “Nishan-e-Kashmir” to Dr. Usama for his brave fight against COVID-19.

Presiding over a high-level meeting on Friday, PM Haider paid glowing tributes to Dr. Riaz,

“The doctors and paramedical staff are leading the war against novel coronavirus on the forefront and we laud their important role in this regard,” he said.

A 26-year-old physician, Dr. Usama Riaz, who screened suspected COVID-19 patients returning to Gilgit Baltistan from overseas and other parts of Pakistan, died on Sunday, 22 March, after testing positive for the virus on Friday, 20th March 2020.

Dr. Riaz developed serious complications two days after testing positive for the coronavirus as he screening the COVID-19 patients without adequate medical aid due to the shortage of supplies.

Upon testing positive he was shifted to the district headquarters hospital in Gilgit. He was put on a ventilator due to his critical condition, but couldn’t survive.