Hakim Said's legacy of learning captured in new book

From turning barren land into a city of learning to building an institution rooted in education, research and public service, the vision of Hakim Mohammed Said has been chronicled in a new book launched by Hamdard University, with speakers calling for his legacy to inspire Pakistan's next generation of scholars, scientists and innovators.

Titled A Legacy of Wisdom: Madinat al-Hikmah - City of Learning and Culture, the book was unveiled at a ceremony in Karachi on Wednesday. The speakers paid tribute to the founder's commitment to education and nation-building, highlighting the enduring relevance of his vision at a time when knowledge, scientific research and technological innovation are increasingly shaping economic progress.

Former education secretary Mehtab Akbar Rashdi recalled that Hakim Said had invited him to Madinat al-Hikmah when little existed on the site. Meetings were held on the land to discuss how a university and a school for children could be established there, she said. Today, Hamdard University stands as a realisation of that vision, Rashdi added, recalling that he had issued the notification approving the university while serving as education secretary.