KARACHI – The medical fraternity in Pakistan is mourning the unexpected loss of one of its most respected figures. Dr. Nadir Ali Syed, a leading neurologist and pioneer in Parkinson’s disease treatment in the country, passed away at his residence in Karachi late Thursday night or early Friday. He was in his late 50s.
The sudden nature of his passing has left colleagues, students, and patients stunned. Known for his humility, compassion, and clinical brilliance, Dr. Nadir was considered to be in good health and actively involved in clinical practice and medical education.
Dr. Nadir was associated with South City Hospital as a Consultant Neurologist and served on the part-time faculty at the Aga Khan University’s Faculty of Health Sciences, where he had once held senior academic positions. Over the years, he earned a reputation for excellence in the treatment of epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and complex headache disorders.
An alumnus of Karachi Grammar School, Dr. Nadir went on to graduate with distinction from Aga Khan University’s MBBS program, before moving to the United States for advanced clinical training. He completed his neurology residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey, where he was appointed Chief Resident, and later pursued a prestigious two-year fellowship in Clinical Neurophysiology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Maryland — widely regarded as the world’s foremost biomedical research institution.
Upon returning to Pakistan in 1998, he joined the faculty at AKU and played a pivotal role in shaping the university’s neurosciences curriculum. He later served as Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education and helped expand AKU’s neurology section into the country’s largest department of its kind. His contributions to medical education, particularly in neurology, left a lasting mark on generations of students and professionals.
Dr. Nadir held multiple international certifications, including from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He published over 25 international research papers and was frequently invited to speak at global conferences on neurological advancements.
For his patients, however, it was not just his qualifications but his gentle demeanor and unwavering dedication that made the real difference.
“Dr. Nadir was a kind and astute neurologist whose calming presence brought immense comfort to my mother,” said Ms. Aneela Pasha, a former colleague from AKU. “As a colleague, he was generous with his time, deeply respectful, and always willing to support others. His passing is a profound loss to our community.”
He is survived by his wife and three children. The funeral is tentatively scheduled for Sunday, as family members from abroad are expected to arrive soon.
