Prime Minister Imran Khan. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/@imrankhan.pti
SOHAWA: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday said people and only people keep the country united, more than any other force, because the public wants to be part of the state, which provides basic amenities and most importantly ensures justice to them.
The prime minister said this after laying the foundation stone of the Al-Qadir University for Sufism in Sohawa, Jhelum district.
Addressing the ceremony, the premier said the new university would impart modern education to the youth on the basis of the ideology of Pakistan. “This university will produce the next generation of leaders of Pakistan. This next generation needs to know how the Islamic world of yesteryear achieved its golden period. This university will focus on research and thorough studies that will help unlock the potential of our coming generations,” said PM Imran.
“I had been thinking about creating this university for the past 23 years,” the premier said. “It has been named after Abdul Qadir Jilani, who linked science and spirituality. We consider spirituality a super science; it needs research, which will be conducted here”.
He said the concept of establishment of a university at Sohawa is to provide equal quality education to the youth across the country. To be built at an area of 200 kanals, the institution would consist of a Sufi Academic Block with capacity of 800 students, Science Block for 700 students, hostel for 200 boys and girls, an auditorium and a library.
Since no university exists between Gujrat and Rawalpindi therefore the location of Sohawa has been selected to offer the youth of the area a quality seat of learning, he added.
He explained that the university was not a public venture and was a private varsity that had been established with funds collected from the private sector. “Thirty-five per cent students will be given scholarships. We will run it on Namal University’s model,” he added.
“This university will focus on all new technologies, be it artificial intelligence, agricultural technologies or any other field. We are lagging behind the world in this sphere; China is one of the leaders and we have requested them for assistance.”
He said Al-Qadir University was part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s efforts to revolutionise education in Pakistan.
“We have to groom our youth as leaders...We will create scholars who will respond to the anti-Islam tirade started after 9/11,” the prime minister remarked.
“Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always stressed the importance of education to excel in life. He said ‘no society can ever progress without education’. The Muslim world produced eminent scientists and scholars because they followed the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in letter and spirit.”
PM Imran said the university would also prove pivotal in the efforts to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state. “The foundation of the state of Madina was based on upholding the law and ensuring justice for all. The state took responsibility for the welfare of poor, elderly and women. Justice and public welfare are essential if we want to see a stable and secure Pakistan in the future.”
The prime minister said the nations ignoring their ideology could not exist. He said the nations faced ups and downs but they should not give up their ideology.
On the occasion, he said “We became a State but couldn’t stay Islamic nor Welfare. When the ideology of Pakistan took a backseat, the country divided into two”.
Citing the backwardness in Sindh and Balochistan, he said it was never had been the Islamic welfare state as had been envisioned by its forefathers. He said after Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the political leaders had delivered nothing but establishing their properties abroad.
The premier added: “Pakistan wasn’t just any other country. It is a country achieved after the efforts of great minds, selfless minds, dedicated minds”.
He was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Noorul Haq Qadri, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood and Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari.
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