Random thoughts
Today no discussions on the prevailing dirty politics, corruption, terrorism, target killings, etc which have become such an integral part of our daily lives. Instead of that, I would like to give some information about two excellent educational institutions which my colleagues, late Mian M Farooq and late Saeed Ahmad Kushtiwala and I, set up in Karachi for the benefit of the residents of Karachi.
The first is the Dr A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering within the University of Karachi. When Gen Moinuddin Haider was governor of Sindh, Mian Farooq once invited him for dinner. He, Saeed Kushtiwala (Saeed Bhai to us) and some other friends asked me to do something for Karachi as I was a Karachiite myself. I had already done some work for my alma mater, D J Sindh Government College.
After some thought, I decided that an institute for a technology of the 21st century would be a good investment and so I started searching for a suitable location. Late Hakim Saeed offered me space at Madinatul Hikma (Hamdard University) near Hub Dam. Since it was quite far out, I thought it would be difficult and inconvenient for scientists and engineers to commute on a daily basis.
Then Prof Dr Saify, VC of Karachi University, offered me a piece of land at a very suitable place – near the H E J Institute of Chemistry – which we gratefully accepted. The design was prepared by the ever-competent engineers, Qamar Alvi and Khizar Hayat of Naqvi & Siddiqui Architects in Islamabad and the building is a beauty to behold. Furniture and equipment are all of excellent design and quality. Much of the beautiful, red wood furniture was supplied by Nizam Sons of Gujrat.
Initially, the institute was run by Prof Dr Mujtaba Naqvi, a very knowledgeable and competent scientist. After he left, it was run by the late Dr Qasim Mehdi. Then the former VC of Karachi University, Prof Dr Irtifaq Ali, was appointed as DG and he did some very good work. The institute needed new life, which was provided by the next DG, Prof Dr Abid Azhar, a very competent and fine gentleman.
He is currently still in charge and runs the institute on professional lines. He has a very pleasing personality and is also (as I am), an ardent lover of Urdu poetry. He is a meritorious professor and has a PhD degree from the famous Australian National University. At the moment there are 12 research fellows and 43 MPhil and PhD students and so far 47 students have received PhD degrees from there. They have published 235 research papers in reputed international journals and 310 papers in local scientific journals.
The institute has organised 33 national conferences; 71 scientists have participated in international conferences and 205 have participated in local conferences. Thirty-two scientists from other institutions have received training there. Seventeen projects have been approved and so far the Institute has received Rs460 million in grants. Students from there have been to various famous universities for education/training.
In order to turn it into a proper degree-awarding institute, it was decided to make it part of Karachi University. The VC of the University, Prof Dr M Qaisar, has been of great help and support. I personally attend all the board meetings. I am very glad that our efforts have been successful and the Institute is internationally recognised as being a fine one. This year’s budget is about Rs100 million and is complemented by private donations. The institute is doing excellent work in genetics and agriculture.
The second state-of-the-art institute is the Institute of Behavioral Sciences – Dr A Q Centre. It is located near Suparco Chowk and adjacent to Dow University of Health Sciences. The land was also arranged through the good offices of the then governor of Sindh, Gen Moinuddin Haider.
Realising how many cases of stress, depression, drug addiction, etc there were in Karachi, I felt that an excellent facility was required for the poor and needy citizens of the city. Mian M. Farooq and Saeed Ahmad Kustiwala were, as usual, my trusted right-hand men. The drawings were once again made by Engineers Qamar Alvi and Khizar Hayat. Prof Dr Haroon Ahmed, formerly head of the Department of Psychiatry at Jinnah Hospital, was appointed DG.
The institute started off by providing free medical care to the needy. An OPD was set up with the financial help of the late Haji Abdul Razzaq of ARY Gold, Dubai. After about two years Prof Haroon left for personal reasons and, due to Gen Musharraf’s mischief, I was unable to look after the affairs of the institute. After the court order in 2008 by which all restrictions placed on me were lifted, I appointed Senator A Haseeb Khan (a dear friend and class fellow from Bhopal) as the focal person. He provided what was necessary and the institute has become a top-class facility for needy people. Haseeb Bhai provided many facilities and obtained substantial donations from our mutual friends, Sardar Yasin Malik and Mehtabuddin Chawla.
The institute now gets competent professionals from Dow University of Health Sciences and from outside. When we managed to get Prof Dr Masood Haneed Khan, VC of Dow University on the board, he brought with him the head of the Psychiatric Division to work with us. The time had come to put it on a permanent basis and so the institute was joined with Dow University, thus obtaining financial assistance and professional support.
Prof Razaur Rahman, an eminent psychiatrist, was appointed DG and other professional, experienced scientists like Prof Dr Abdul Ghaffar Billoo have joined the board. The institute now offers MPhil to doctors, students and professionals. The induction of Haseeb Bhai has given me great peace of mind. I regularly attend board meetings and it is very satisfying to see all our efforts paying off.
We are a non-profit organisation catering to those with psychological disorders, mental health issues, depression or drug addiction. We do this through an in-patient department, drug rehabilitation centre, out-patient department/clinics and day care services.
Email: dr.a.quadeer.khangmail.com