Prof. Nabila Najam Soomro honoured with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz

ISPRM warmly congratulates Prof. Dr Nabila Najam Soomro, Executive Director of the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (SIPM&R) in Karachi, who was named a recipient of the Sitara-e-Imtiaz in the Pakistan Civil Awards announced on Independence Day, 14 August.

The Sitara-e-Imtiaz, or “Star of Excellence,” is conferred by the President of Pakistan and ranks third in the Order of Imtiaz, the country’s principal series of civilian honours. It recognises individuals who have made an especially meritorious contribution to the national interest or to significant public endeavours — among them medicine, science, the arts and literature. Recipients are announced each year on 14 August, with the investiture ceremony held on Pakistan Day, 23 March.

Pakistan’s first female civilian physiatrist, Prof. Soomro was recognised for establishing the country’s first free civilian multidisciplinary rehabilitation services. She laid the foundation of the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2007, and in July 2020 the Government of Sindh chartered it as the Sindh Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, with full autonomous status and recognition as a degree-awarding institute. SIPM&R today serves some 60,000 patients a year and trains the next generation of rehabilitation professionals across physiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, prosthetics and orthotics, and audiology and speech-language therapy.

Prof. Soomro’s contribution was recognised by ISPRM with the Individual Honor Roll Award, and this national honour affirms the growing standing of rehabilitation medicine in Pakistan.