Endowment: Noted scholar donates Rs5m to GCU

LAHORE:

Prof Zaheer Ahmed Siddiqui, the noted Persian poet and scholar, on Wednesday donated Rs5 million to the Government College University (GCU), Lahore Endowment Fund Trust (GCU-EFT).

According to a press statement, Prof Siddiqui, the author of 52 books which include Pakistan’s first Persian-to-Urdu dictionary, handed over the cheque to Vice Chancellor Hassan Amir Shah during a ceremony held at the Syndicate Committee Room. He also announced donation of his 28 acre land valued at Rs140 million to the GCU.

Shah said Prof Siddiqui had more than 50 years of meritorious services in research, administration, and teaching.

“He has been donating all his salary to the GCU Endowment Trust. Prof Siddiqui has set a precedent that others should follow,” he said. Prof Siddiqui said that all bright students deserved the best education opportunities.

EFT Executive Committee president Iqbal Z Ahmed and secretary Dr Khalid Manzoor Butt said that the trust was providing scholarships worth Rs20 million annually to deserving students.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th,  2016.