SMIU activates Endowment Fund for scholarships after 84 years

Fund activated after institution was elevated to status of university

KARACHI: Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) has reactivated its Endowment Fund for scholarships and research after an interval of 84 years.

The last person who had contributed Rs5,000 for the fund was Khan Sahib Haji Murad Bukhsh Mari on August 21, 1933, shared SMIU vice-chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh during the first meeting of SMIU Endowment Fund's board of governors that was held at the varsity's Committee Room on Thursday.

The institution's Endowment Fund was created by Sindh Madressa's founder Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi on September 1, 1885, said Dr Shaikh, adding that Justice Amir Ali Syed, the head of the National Mohammedan Association, was the first person to donate. The fund stayed active until the late 1930s but it became dormant for reasons unknown.



"According to the record, Sardar Sohabat Khan Khoso had donated Rs2,000, Sardar Abdul Rahim Khan Khoso Rs1,500 and Khan Saheb Adam Khan Rs1,500 on January 21, 1928," said Dr Shaikh. Jam Kamber Khan donated Rs1,000 on April 11, 1928, Nawab Ghaibi Khan Chandio donated Rs1,500 on April 30, 1928, followed by Mari's last donation.

The need to revive the fund arose after the institution was elevated to the status of university. The statues of the fund were approved by the Sindh governor on the recommendation of the university syndicate and senate in April 2016, the vice-chancellor explained.

He said that the returns of the endowment will be used to grant scholarships to the students and faculty, promote research and development and maintain the institution's historic buildings. At present, the deposits of the fund have grown to become the second largest fund among public-sector universities, second only to the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi.

The Endowment Fund members appreciated the vice-chancellors efforts to revive the fund and believed it will be helpful to the students, faculty and staff members.

The meeting was attended by members of the board of governors, such as Habib Bank president Nauman Dar, JS Bank founder Jahangir Siddiqui and SMIU business administration faculty dean Prof Dr Aurangzeb.