Such schemes sought for KP
PESHAWAR: The achievements of various educational and medical projects being undertaken by the Hamdard Foundation of Shaheed Hakim Muhammed Said have left delegates impressed who want such schemes launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well to benefit the militancy-hit province people.
The journalists from Peshawar received the first-hand information on these projects during a recent visit to the port city of Karachi along with counterparts from Lahore and Faisalabad. Sadia Rashid, daughter of Shaheed Hakim Muhammed Said, was the host.
The occasion was the 20th convocation of the Hamdard University at Madinat al-Hikmah — The city of education, science and culture, set up by Shaheed Hakim Muhammed Said, spread over 350 acres and sited 30 kilomtres in the north.
The visitors were taken to Idara-e-Said in Bait-al Hikmah, Hamdard Village School, Hamdard Public School and College, Hamdard College of Eastern Medicine, Hafiz Muhammad Ilyas Institute of Pharmacology & Herbal Sciences, Shifa-ul-Mulk Hospital, Hamdard Dental Hospital in North Nazimabad and Hamdard Naimat Begum Mother and Child Care Unit.
The Idara-e-Said is a library which is a treasure-trove of knowledge with a large number of books, pictures, films about Hakeem Said (Jan 9, 1920- October 17, 1998). Even the room in use of the great visionary and the car in which he was martyred were seen preserved there.
Hamdard Village School offers education along with technical know-how to the poor communities, mostly from areas of Balochistan located on boundary with Sindh. Hamdard Public School and College imparts education from primary to higher secondary level for modest fees. The hospitals are offering services for reasonable charges.
The other constituent institutions of the Hamdard University include Institute of Advanced Studies & Research, Institute of Education & Social Sciences, Institute of Management Sciences, Institute of Information Technology, School of Law, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usman Institute of Technology, CISCO Regional Networking Academy and Graduate School of Engineering Sciences & IT.
The visitors had a detailed sitting with Hamdard University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan. He said the university was founded by Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said on October 9, 1991, and its campuses have increased with the establishment of those in Islamabad and Faisalabad.
Asked about any plan to set up a campus in Peshawar, he said the university would expand campuses subject to the availability of funds whose bulk presently came from the Hamdard Foundation.
The vice-chancellor also mentioned Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry, Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences, Hamdard Institute of Information Technology, Faculty of Engineering Science & Technology, Usman Institute of Technology, Hafiz Mohammad Ilyas Institute of Pharmacology & Herbal Sciences, Hamdard School of Law, Hamdard Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bait al-Hikmah Institute of Research and Regional Cisco Networking Academy.
In the last part of the programme, the delegates attended the 20th convocation of the Hamdard University where 1,166 students were conferred degrees. Seven were awarded PhD and 21 received MPhil degrees. The students from seven faculties were awarded “25-Hamdard University” gold medals. Nine “Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said gold medals” were awarded to the best graduates.
Eminent educationist Professor Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, was the chief guest who in his speech laid stress on human resource and said nations were built through education. He praised the Hamdard University for providing a healthy environment, good teachers, modern equipment and the best guidance to the students. He said the Madinat al-Hikmah was a dream of Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said, and his daughter Sadia Rashid.
University Chancellor Sadia Rashid said her father wanted to prepare the youth for the challenges of tomorrow, to see them develop the qualities of devotion, love, determination and service to mankind.
She said her father took a modest start when he re-founded Hamdard in Pakistan in 1948. “ Two rented rooms and some rented furniture was the start of a nationwide network of matabs, hospitals and health centres, 21 mobile dispensaries, four manufacturing units a multi-storey head office, zonal offices, a global presence of products and this Madinat-al Hikmah, spread over 350 acres, and incorporating schools, colleges and your own university,” she said, adding her father had determination, integrity and passion to serve the humanity at large and the people of Pakistan in particular that made all this happened.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan said the Hamdard University was a part of the realization of the dreams of Hakim Muhammed Said who wanted pursuit of excellence. He enumerated the varsity achievements, advising the graduates to always keep in mind the dignity of their alma mater Hamdard University and its founder Shaheed Hakim Muhammed Said.
Recording his impressions, a member of the delegation and columnist Dr Salahuddin, who has been associated with the Hamdard Foundation for over 20 years, said: “Hamdard” has become synonymous with faithful service to humanity. He said the visit made him proud of his long relationship with the institution that truly reflects dignity, knowledge, sincerity and service”.