37th death anniversary: With a first-class education, Pir Ilahi Bux set out to conquer the world

Leaders gather to pay tribute to former education and chief minister

KARACHI: Education minister Pir Mazharul Haq has some very big shoes to fill - his grandfather, Pir Ilahi Bux, served in the same post 70 years ago and later went on to become the chief minister.

An event to mark the 37th death anniversary of the late minister was held late Sunday evening at the lawn of the Sindh Assembly, where he used to serve the province over half a century ago.

Quoting his grandfather, the minister said, “The world can be conquered through education, not wars.” Haq added that his grandfather vehemently believed this and struggled to attain education despite crippling financial circumstances that his family was going through. “As the education minister, it was his burning desire to see every child in Sindh educated,” he said.

As the education minister, Haq said that he would strive to achieve his grandfather’s dream. “The financial grant for poor people’s education has been increased from Rs1 billion to Rs2 billion and five per cent of the endowment fund has been allocated for teachers’ children.”

Apart from the government’s efforts, the Pir Ilahi Bux Foundation will award certificates, shields and cash prizes to position holders of the Matric and Inter Board. Around Rs0.5 million have been set aside for awarding ‘Pir Ilahi Bux Gold Medals’ to Karachi University’s high achievers.

“Without education, there would be nor democracy or progress. We would be bending to the will of tyrants,” said Haq.

Dr Abdul Wahab of Muhammad Ali Jinnah University said that people only remember leaders like Bux, who strive to improve the world around them, not those who are consumed by their own greed.

The general secretary of Pakistan Peoples Party’s Sindh division, Taj Haider, finance minister Murad Ali Shah, law minister Ayaz Ahmed Soomro, MPAs Ghulam Mujadad Isran and Najmuddin Abro, and barrister Pir Mujubul Haq also spoke highly of Bux.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2012.