Spare some change?: Islamia College University features on new Rs20 coin
A testament to services rendered by institution in education: Vice chancellor Ajmal Khan.
A testament to services rendered by institution in education: Vice chancellor Ajmal Khan.
PESHAWAR:
Instead of the ever-present crescent and star, the State Bank of Pakistan has issued a Rs20 coin which has the Islamia College University building on its reverse side and ‘100 years of Glory’ on its obverse side.
The coins were introduced two years after the institute celebrated its centenary and have been available since March 16. They were unveiled during a ceremony held at the ICU in the provincial capital on Thursday. Ajmal Khan, the vice chancellor of the institute, and other faculty members were in attendance.
The flip side
According to the university’s administration, the coin weighs 12 grammes and consists of 75 % copper and 25% nickel.
It has a diameter of 30 millimetres and has the ICU’s slogan for its centenary celebrations – ‘100 years of Glory’ – inscribed on its front side. The name of the institution in English and the dates ‘1913-2013’ are also engraved on it.
On the reverse side, “Islami Jamhuria Pakistan” has been carved in Urdu above the picture of the building. The coin carries the number 20 in bold letters (in English) next to an inscription of “rupiya” in Urdu on the lower side of the coin.
According to the ICU administration, the coin is available at the university campus and students have purchased it with great enthusiasm.
The building of the institute is also printed on the Rs1,000 note and was previously featured on the Rs100 note. In 2013, Pakistan Post issued postcards with the ICU building to mark the university’s 100 years.
Tussle over land
“The coin is a testament to the services rendered by the institution in education in the province,” Ajmal said. “ICU is the mother of all the institutions in the province and has been given the status of university.”
The VC vowed to maintain the university’s standard of excellence in imparting education. He also drew attention to some of the challenges faced by the university.
“The institute had been set up on 2,054 canals of land,” said Ajmal. “However, at this stage, we only have 952 canals in our custody and the remaining land has been taken by the University of Peshawar.”
According to Ajmal, ICU is legally entitled to the land and it should gain ownership over it.
“We have to establish more academic blocks to accommodate the growing number of students,” he added.
Surmounting all odds
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Naushad Khan, dean of faculty of social sciences at the university, drew attention to the milestones achieved by the institution over the last century. “The school began its operations in March 1913 while its foundation was set in March 2011,” he said. “However, the college classes started six months later on October 1, 1913.”
Naushad said only 26 students were initially enrolled at the institute. “There were 10 staff members and one clerk,” he said.
According to Naushad, Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan was credited with setting up the institution. “It was because of his effort, people decided to donate their land and assets to contribute towards this noble cause,” he said. “The college has seen hard times and faced tough challenges but these difficulties have now been overcome.”
ICU was granted university status in 2008 and currently 10,000 students are studying at the institute.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2015.
Instead of the ever-present crescent and star, the State Bank of Pakistan has issued a Rs20 coin which has the Islamia College University building on its reverse side and ‘100 years of Glory’ on its obverse side.
The coins were introduced two years after the institute celebrated its centenary and have been available since March 16. They were unveiled during a ceremony held at the ICU in the provincial capital on Thursday. Ajmal Khan, the vice chancellor of the institute, and other faculty members were in attendance.
The flip side
According to the university’s administration, the coin weighs 12 grammes and consists of 75 % copper and 25% nickel.
It has a diameter of 30 millimetres and has the ICU’s slogan for its centenary celebrations – ‘100 years of Glory’ – inscribed on its front side. The name of the institution in English and the dates ‘1913-2013’ are also engraved on it.
On the reverse side, “Islami Jamhuria Pakistan” has been carved in Urdu above the picture of the building. The coin carries the number 20 in bold letters (in English) next to an inscription of “rupiya” in Urdu on the lower side of the coin.
According to the ICU administration, the coin is available at the university campus and students have purchased it with great enthusiasm.
The building of the institute is also printed on the Rs1,000 note and was previously featured on the Rs100 note. In 2013, Pakistan Post issued postcards with the ICU building to mark the university’s 100 years.
Tussle over land
“The coin is a testament to the services rendered by the institution in education in the province,” Ajmal said. “ICU is the mother of all the institutions in the province and has been given the status of university.”
The VC vowed to maintain the university’s standard of excellence in imparting education. He also drew attention to some of the challenges faced by the university.
“The institute had been set up on 2,054 canals of land,” said Ajmal. “However, at this stage, we only have 952 canals in our custody and the remaining land has been taken by the University of Peshawar.”
According to Ajmal, ICU is legally entitled to the land and it should gain ownership over it.
“We have to establish more academic blocks to accommodate the growing number of students,” he added.
Surmounting all odds
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Naushad Khan, dean of faculty of social sciences at the university, drew attention to the milestones achieved by the institution over the last century. “The school began its operations in March 1913 while its foundation was set in March 2011,” he said. “However, the college classes started six months later on October 1, 1913.”
Naushad said only 26 students were initially enrolled at the institute. “There were 10 staff members and one clerk,” he said.
According to Naushad, Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Khan was credited with setting up the institution. “It was because of his effort, people decided to donate their land and assets to contribute towards this noble cause,” he said. “The college has seen hard times and faced tough challenges but these difficulties have now been overcome.”
ICU was granted university status in 2008 and currently 10,000 students are studying at the institute.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 3rd, 2015.