BRIDGE NOTES: Dr Mohammad Ilyas- a symbol of perfection

Dr Mohammad Ilyas, a bridge luminary who dominated the scene of bridge in Pakistan soon after his return to the country with new ideas and bridge material. He started conducting a weekly session at Bangalore Club, to pursue his long cherished desire to improve the standard of the game.
His mission continued when the venue was shifted to the National Stadium where his towering personality served as guiding light to the bridge players. For his untiring and selfless efforts he earned a popular title of "Father of duplicate bridge in Pakistan" his was a solid contribution in making Contract Bridge League and Pakistan Bridge Federation. Curiously the game of bridge caught the imagination of the doctor in his early days at the medical college and kept his company all through his years with renewed and ever increasing zeal.
Born on May 9, 1915, in Bangalore in a middle class family, he obtained a medical degree and was posted in a government job in Mysore. Barely settled down in medical profession, partition of India came about and he opted and migrated to Pakistan in November 1947.
On Pakistani soil of his choice, he was posted as Quarantine Officer at Karachi airport. Later the government of Pakistan sent him to Harvard University for Master's in Public Health. On getting a degree he returned to the country. He worked hard in setting up the College of Physicians and Surgeons as one of its founding members. In the meantime General Ayub Khan, invited Dr M. Ilyas to carry out reforms in the Ministry of Health.
In 1963, he was deputed by the government of Pakistan to WHO EMRO as Public Health Administrator in Saudi Arabia for 4 years. Later he was posted to Western Pacific Region WHO and retired in 1975. While serving the Pacific Region, Dr Mohammad Ilyas, dedicated eight years in South Korea in reforming health ministry and formulated systems in health sector for which he received the highest civil award, Order of Merit - FLOWER OF KOREA from the president of Korea.
On returning to Pakistan in 1977 he was appointed Principal of Sindh Medical College for seven years. After retirement from government service he joined Baqai Medical College as Dean Faculty of Health Sciences. Dr Mohammad Ilyas's life is like an open book with meritorious performance in the field of his interest. He was a satisfied man with a long list of achievements during lifetime that may inspire others to emulate. Doctor Sahib often used to say that 'The game of bridge shows the way to keep the mind alert and body physically fit".