HYDERABAD: Founder and Chairman of Bahria Town Malik Riaz Hussain and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad laid the foundation stone of Altaf Hussain University in Hyderabad on Friday evening with initially introducing 17 departments.
The event was held amid tight security measures and parliamentarians, high ranking officials, traders and citizens attended the ceremony.MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a telephonic speech said, “Now my dream has come true and I am happy to see the establishing of a major university.”
He claims to love the people of Hyderabad. He said opposition to this project by certain elements delayed it for a long time. Altaf thanked former president Asif Ali Zardari for cooperation, but said “I might have been happy if it had been announced and established in the era of former president.”
He also thanked Malik Riaz for extending a helping hand for building the university in Hyderabad, which was his dream. He assured Malik Riaz cooperation by the MQM leaders and activists.
Malik Riaz, while addressing the ground breaking ceremony, said: “I am not a politician. I am not well educated. But I have spirit to establish educational institutes like Altaf Hussain University”. He announced to issue 50 scholarships to deserving students after completion of the university.
He announced to establish five air-conditioned free food spots at different areas of Sindh to feed the poor and unemployed people. Apart from that he said the Bahria Town will establish major water purification plant in the city so that the citizens could get safe water.
He also announced to build 300 plots for the MQM activists. He said it is not for the only Urdu speaking students but all students may get enrolment without any discrimination. He said he met former president Asif Ali Zardari for cooperation and he extended helping hand to make the dream true.
The Sindh governor said they have paid Rs400 million to the Hyderabad
Development Authority for 80-acre plot for the university. He said it was the gift for the citizens of Hyderabad, as it was the old dream of MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
He said they have designed charter speedily to complete it within two-year period. He said though it is the private university, they have planned to benefit the deserving students through scholarships and discounts in fees. He said there is no aim to commercialize it.
He said it could have completed earlier but lack of cooperation by the certain governments and politicization of the issue the project was delayed for long time. He also lauded the cooperation of former president Asif Ali Zardari.
Majority of MQM MNAs and MPAs, including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Qamar Mansoori and PPP’s adviser Jabbar Khan, were also present on the occasion besides large number of leading traders and notables.