University of Surrey Graduate Wins British Council Social Action Award in Pakistan
A University of Surrey graduate has been named the winner of the British Council Social Action Award in Pakistan, in recognition of his transformative leadership in disability inclusion and public health reform.
Aon Bukhari, a Chevening Scholar and Global Ambassador for the University of Surrey, received the prestigious honour at a national awards ceremony held on Saturday, 7 February in Pakistan. The award celebrates outstanding alumni of UK institutions who are driving meaningful social change and improving the lives of others in their home countries.
Currently serving as Special Secretary (Operations) in the Health & Population Department, Government of Punjab, Aon has led some of the province’s most ambitious disability inclusion reforms to date. His work has helped shift inclusion from policy ambition to lived reality for tens of thousands of children with special needs and their families.
Aon says, “Being shortlisted for the Study UK Alumni Award is a meaningful milestone, reflecting the foundations shaped during my time at the University of Surrey. Winning helps amplify the impact and strengthens collaboration for inclusion.”
Aon Bukhari accepting the British Council Social Action Award in Pakistan
Aon Bukhari accepting the British Council Social Action Award in Pakistan
Aon Bukhari accepting the British Council Social Action Award in Pakistan
At the heart of Aon’s impact is the Special Children Screening and Support Program, a pioneering initiative he designed and implemented following his return from the UK. The programme has impacted more than 150,000 families, caregivers, and education providers, while establishing a coordinated care model for over 38,000 children across 303 special education institutions in Punjab.
For the first time, children with special needs are now supported through a unified, data-driven system that tracks each child’s journey from early screening through to therapy or treatment. Previously, support in many institutions was limited to basic medication with little follow-up. Under Aon’s leadership, departments were connected through a digital dashboard that transformed fragmented services into measurable, accountable progress.
Aon also established a technical working group on children with special needs, bringing together doctors, therapists, educators, and data specialists. The group developed standardized screening protocols and referral pathways aligned with international standards, ensuring consistent and accurate diagnosis. The group’s recommendations were formally presented to the Chief Minister of Punjab and the Parliamentary Caucus for Differently Abled Persons, endorsed for province-wide implementation, and backed by a budget of approximately 399 million PKR.
As a result, services such as ophthalmology, audiology, assistive devices, and therapeutic interventions have been expanded, leading to the successful treatment and therapy of more than 33,000 children. The programme’s human impact has been profound. One mother, Aon recalls, shared emotionally that her son heard her voice for the first time after receiving a hearing aid through the initiative.
His leadership has been formally recognised by the Secretary of the Special Education Department, who issued a Letter of Appreciation acknowledging Aon’s technical guidance, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained impact on disability inclusion.
Building on this success, Aon is now leading the next phase of reform by developing inclusive spaces within Tehsil and District Headquarters hospitals, in collaboration with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The initiative embeds accessibility, transparency, and compassion into frontline health services, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Funding has already been allocated for the establishment of daycare centres to support early childhood development.
Aon credits his time at the University of Surrey as pivotal in shaping his approach to leadership and governance. Studying sustainable development in the UK exposed him to interdisciplinary thinking, inclusive societal attitudes, and an educational culture that encouraged critical inquiry rather than rigid instruction. He has spoken of how Surrey broadened his academic, cultural, and emotional horizons, giving him the confidence to translate ideas into systems that deliver real-world social change.
Beyond policy reform, Aon continues to share the values of his UK education through environmental initiatives, disability awareness campaigns, and mentorship of young civil servants, many of whom have gone on to pursue Chevening scholarships themselves.
By winning the British Council Social Action Award, Aon Bukhari joins a distinguished group of UK alumni whose work demonstrates how empathy, evidence-based leadership, and international education can help build a more inclusive future.