During the Hajj, Asif Bashir and his three teammates worked tirelessly under extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 53°C.
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A Pakistani man, Asif Bashir, will receive the prestigious Jeevan Raksha Award in India on January 26 for his heroic efforts during last year’s Hajj. Bashir, a government employee from northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, saved the lives of 24 pilgrims at Mina in Saudi Arabia, including 17 Indian citizens.
The Jeevan Raksha Padak is a civilian lifesaving award presented by the Government of India. Established on 30 September 1961, the award was originally called the Jeevan Raksha Padak, Class III.
“I want to thank the Indian government for nominating me for this award,” Bashir told Nukta. “I’ll be the second Pakistani after Bacha Khan to receive an Indian civil award.”
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Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, acknowledged Bashir’s bravery in a letter of appreciation dated June 30, 2024. The letter praised Bashir’s “remarkable act of kindness” in providing first aid and transporting patients to hospitals on his shoulders when ambulances were unavailable.
During the Hajj, Bashir and his three teammates worked tirelessly under extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 53°C. “We were deployed at security post number 39 when we saw people fainting due to the heat,” Bashir said. “We shifted 26 pilgrims to hospitals. One of our team members gave ORS, another provided water, one offered first aid, and I carried people to the hospital on my shoulder.”
Bashir highlighted that their efforts transcended nationalities. “We didn’t see who was Pakistani or Indian. We worked for humanity and rescued around 450 people,” he said.
During the Hajj, Asif Bashir and his three teammates worked tirelessly under extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 53°C.Social media
This was Bashir’s first interaction with Indians, and he expressed a sense of camaraderie. “They are the same as we are. We share the same language. My message for Indians and Pakistanis is to live in peace and harmony as they do in overseas countries.”
Bashir plans to use his visit to India to return lost belongings of Indian pilgrims that he reported to the lost and found department in Saudi Arabia. He also thanked the Pakistani government for recognizing his efforts.
India and Pakistan annually send nearly the same number of pilgrims—about 180,000 each—for the Hajj, a number surpassed only by Indonesia. Additionally, Pakistan deploys 1,700 to 1,750 government employees each year to assist the pilgrims.
Bashir’s act of bravery has been celebrated as a testament to humanity rising above borders and politics.
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