Hamdard University celebrates silver jubilee

Institute was established on Karachi's outskirts to spread education in rural areas, says VC

KARACHI: Special attention should be given to primary education, said Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khurshid Ahmed Shah while speaking at the opening ceremony of the silver jubilee celebrations of Hamdard University on Thursday at its Baital Hikmah Auditorium.

While congratulating the varsity for successfully completing 25 years in providing high-quality education to the youth, he said that primary education was the nursery of education and without strengthening it, one could not put higher education on solid footings. He also proposed the establishment of a primary education commission.
He lauded the efforts and struggle of Hakim Mohammed Said for spreading education in the country. "Said was a fine man and a patriot, his name will always live on due to Hamdard University," he said.



According to Shah, no importance is being given to the health and education sectors, meanwhile issues related to population and environment are also increasing in the country. He added that the only solution to these problems was education and without allocating at least 3% of the gross domestic product to education continuously for 30 years, we would not be able to do some good in the world.
"According to international standards, a student must get education for at least 850 hours annually," said Shah, adding that children in rural areas only get 150 hours of education. He claimed that the nation will not be able to progress in such pathetic conditions.
"Said established the institute and schools on the outskirts of Karachi to spread education in rural areas," said Hamdard University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Syed Shabibul Hasan. He added that equal educational opportunities were being provided to students belonging to different social classes, in line with Said's vision.



While presenting a report on the university's performance, its registrar Professor Dr Waliuddin said it was one of the largest universities in the private sector, with an enrolment of 6,000 students at present whereas 26,000 students have already graduated. "The varsity, which has campuses in Karachi and Islamabad, was the pioneer of the field of energy engineering in the country," he added.
A documentary film on the life and achievements of Hakim Said was shown. Shah awarded prizes to students who participated in the arrangement of the silver jubilee celebrations.