A Polish hero who defended Lahore in 1965 war. The Pioneer of SUPARCO. Rocket Missile Man of Pakistan. A Polish who chose Karachi as his eternal abode. Here is a toast to Władysław Turowicz. Here is a toast to Karachi’s diversity. Spare sometime and say hello to him. He rests in peace at Gora Qabrustan.
Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz, (April 23, 1908 – November 8, 1980) usually referred to as Air Cdre. W. J. M. Turowicz, was a prominent and noted Polish Pakistani military scientist and anaeronautical engineer. He is considered as one of the chief architects of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan's space program. Turowicz, an eminent rocket scientist and an aeronautical engineer, was the leading and central figure in Pakistan's drive to develop high-tech rocket and missile technology of its own.
Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz, (April 23, 1908 – November 8, 1980) usually referred to as Air Cdre. W. J. M. Turowicz, was a prominent and noted Polish Pakistani military scientist and anaeronautical engineer. He is considered as one of the chief architects of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan's space program. Turowicz, an eminent rocket scientist and an aeronautical engineer, was the leading and central figure in Pakistan's drive to develop high-tech rocket and missile technology of its own.
Władysław Turowicz came to Pakistan in 1948 after Pakistan High Commission in London announced vacancies for technicians and pilots in Pakistan Airforce. He along with a group of 30 other Poles were posted at Drigh Road Base in Karachi. Zofia, his wife, taught Mathematics at the Karachi American School and also trained gliding to Air Cadets in Karachi and Rawalpindi. She later taught at Karachi University as well. In 1961 the couple obtained Pakistani citi¬zenship. During the 1965 war, Turowicz rose to prominence when he defended Lahore as a pilot. He also ensured supply chain of local spareparts for Airforce after the supplies stopped from abroad. After his retirement from Airforce in 1967, he joined SUPARCO where he worked till 1970. He was chosen by famous nobel laureate Dr. Abdus Salam to lead Pakistan to the excellence in rocket and space technology. He was instrumental in launching first Pakistani Satellite and acheiving breakthroughs in rocket and missile program.
His wife and daughters stayed back in Pakistan. Two of his daughters married Pakistanis and the third married a Bangladeshi. Władysław Turowicz passed away in 1980 and was buried in the Gora Qabrustan. PAF Museum Karachi has placed a memorial plaque in his honor. He was awarded Tamgha-e-Pakistan, Sitara-e-Pakistan and Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (Well before these honors were found in cereal packs)
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