Karachi: The family of 23-year-old dental student Sultan Zafar, who was declared brain-dead after a tragic road accident, wanted to donate not just his kidneys but also his heart and lungs to save more lives.
Yet, no hospital in Karachi was prepared to harvest and transplant them, leaving the grieving family with both pride and sorrow over an opportunity lost.
Sitting with tearful eyes and a heart full of pride, Prof Dr Tipu Sultan, the renowned anesthesiologist and grandfather of the late Sultan, recalled the most difficult decision his family ever made.
“Sultan was our beloved grandson. When the doctors confirmed his brain death, all his organs were healthy. Our daughter-in-law, Dr Meher Afroz, decided we should donate his kidneys to save other lives,” he said, his voice trembling.
Dr Meher Afroz, a nephrologist at SIUT, made the courageous decision in the midst of her greatest personal tragedy. A family member initially objected, but eventually, everyone agreed. “We wanted Sultan’s life to continue in others,” Prof Tipu said.
“Two patients who had been surviving on dialysis every other day received his kidneys. I met them myself; they are recovering and slowly returning to a normal life. My grandson’s death was not in vain.”
The family’s wish to donate his heart and lungs, however, could not be fulfilled. “Sultan’s heart and lungs were perfectly healthy,” Prof Tipu recounted.
“I personally contacted the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) to ask if they could transplant a healthy heart or lungs. But they said they were not yet ready for such transplants in Pakistan. That is a tragedy for our country.”
The young dental student’s life ended abruptly when his car overturned in DHA Phase 8 last week, leaving him with severe head injuries. He underwent two major brain surgeries at Ziauddin Hospital but never regained consciousness. On Tuesday night, he was declared brain-dead.
Sultan Zafar, a budding athlete who dreamed of becoming a Test cricketer and was also a fitness trainer, became a hero in death. His two kidneys have given a new lease of life to two strangers whose families had no donors, while his other healthy organs could not be used due to the lack of transplant facilities in the country.
Prof Tipu Sultan, who was part of Pakistan’s first-ever kidney transplant alongside Dr Adeeb Rizvi decades ago, lamented the lack of progress in organ transplantation despite the country’s medical advancements.
“Neither religion, nor law, nor culture forbids organ donation,” he said. “The real challenge is awareness and the courage to make this decision. Saving one life is like saving all of humanity. Organ donation is a continuous charity, a sadaqah jariyah.”
He urged Pakistani society to break its silence and embrace the lifesaving potential of organ donation. “Sultan is gone, and the pain will remain forever. But there is comfort in knowing that even in death, he gave life to others. That is a win for humanity, for medicine, and for our family.”
Sultan Zafar was laid to rest at Koohi Goth Cemetery beside his late father, who died of liver cancer a few years ago. His story now serves as both a beacon of hope and a reminder of the urgent need to advance organ transplantation in Pakistan, so that no healthy heart or lungs go unused again.
Ends