It was a memorable event! A variety of papers were presented during scientific sessions in the morning. The evenings were delightful with social events. I was able to meet some of my old buddies.

The College itself unfortunately has not made any significant progress since we left 18 years ago! With the exception of a new auditorium, the rest of it looks older and worn out. A "Berlin Wall" divides the College from the Civil Hospital. It was funny because I did not know that it existed and I kept walking along feeling sure that there was a way from the College to the Hospital, until someone told me that I would have to walk outside. I failed to understand the reason. After all Civil Hospital is the affiliated teaching hospital to DMC. Why then the separation? Political influence might corrupt one or the other institution? But then if the students and faculty are forced to walk outside is that not dangerous and prone to expose them to outside politics and possible violence? There was even a paper presented to prove that the wall has not contributed to any good. It was encouraging to know that there is a movement to make DMC a University. We entirely support that.

The institution badly needs funds and brains to start good programs in research. It serves a crucial role in the medical care of the old town. Maybe it should gear up its private services and encourage paying patients to use the hospital so that a revenue stream can be created. Anyway, I am sure that being far as we are form the two institutions, we will have a hard time understanding the politics. We barely understood it when we were students!

We wish both Civil Hospital and Dow Medical College all luck and best wishes for a prosperous and progressive next 50 years and we hope we are there to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee!!

With regard to the Dow Golden Jubilee it was a memorable experience for all of those who were involved. I think we were all overwhelmed with the warmth of the hospitality shown to us as visitors to Pakistan. I found myself with up to three invitations to every lunch and dinner and I was asked to visit every hospital with a pathology department in Karachi! I was sorry that there simply wasn't the time to accept all of the kind invitations but I sure that there will be other opportunities in the future.

Given the number of participants at the scientific meeting it was a tremendous organisational success. I could never understand why it was necessary to apologise so profusely at every minor hiccup. These are inevitable and for a meeting of this scale were remarkably few - there was certainly nothing to apologise about and every reason for considerable pride at how well the proceedings went.

I think that what amazed me most was the obvious success of so many of the Dow graduates. Many of them have achieved academic success in the global medical community. After a tour of inspection of the Dow Medical College this is all the more remarkable as the College is in desperate need of substantial investment for modernisation of the buildings and the facilities. I think the idea of an appeal fund is a great initiative and if asked I would certainly be delighted to make a financial contribution. I know many of the pathologists in Pakistan - they are full of imaginative ideas as to how to develop their discipline but the facilities are sadly lacking. If the energy and enthusiasm shown in the organisation of the DMC Golden Jubilee can be directed now into the appeal fund you may be able to provide all Dow students and staff with the facilities which they so richly deserve.

With thanks and best wishes to all of my many friends in Pakistan.

Ian Lauder.
Professor of Pathology
University of Leicester.