Pakistani man Asif Bashir nominated for Indian civil award for saving lives during Hajj

Pakistani citizen Asif Bashir, who saved 26 lives including 17 Indians amid extreme heat during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage has been nominated for a prestigious Indian civil award. In light of his heroic actions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also requested the Ministry of Religious Affairs to recommend names for a civilian honor.

According to reports, the Indian government has invited Asif Bashir to receive the award on January 26.

Following the announcement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the Director-General of Hajj and the Ministry of Religious Affairs to submit nominations, which are expected to include Bashir’s name for his life-saving efforts during the Hajj.

Asif Bashir, hailing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was serving as an assistant during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, where many pilgrims struggled to cope with the extreme heat.

The 32-year-old Peshawar man, works at the Chief Minister's Secretariat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a database supervisor, also had the privilege of performing Hajj in 2024 as a volunteer to assist pilgrims.

According to the details, the young man provided water and life-saving medicines to the pilgrims during the extreme weather conditions.

Bashir also carried multiple pilgrims on his shoulder for an extended distance of three to four kilometres, APP reported.

 Indian ministers heaped praises on Bashir in the letters written to him following his humanitarian spirit.

“Your dedication, compassion and unwavering commitment to serving the pilgrims have been truly commendable”, said Indian Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijju and Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani in the letters.

“I am particularly impressed by your remarkable act of kindness and bravery in providing first aid and transporting patients to the hospitals on your shoulder when ambulances and medical staff were occupied," Rijju said.