QAU Alumni Association meets on Golden Jubilee

Islamabad

The multipurpose Hall of Islamabad Club was bustling with pleasantries, laughter and nostalgia. The occasion was the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the debut institution of higher learning and research in the federal capital. It started as University of Islamabad but was renamed as Quaid-i-Azam University on December 25, 1976, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation.

Old students from different departments and years attended the ceremony. The occasion was also attended by Majeed who is more known to alumni than anybody else in the campus as he owns the famous Majeed Hut for which all the ‘khokhas’ at the university are known as ‘Majeedabad’. He was the only person to get standing ovation. The other popular personalities in audience were Malik Sahib, the conductor and Rana Shabbir, the driver, the bus conductor, who was known to everybody.

The function was organised by QAU Alumni Association also known as Quaideen here Thursday. Farhat Asif conducted the proceedings. The formal function started with introduction which was heard keenly. Alumni President Rai Sikandar filled in the blanks if any participant left something to be desired especially the link with Rai Sikandar.

Murtaza Noor, referred to Quaideen, the registered predecessor of QAU Alumni Association which extended full support. He said that Alumni signed a MoU with QAU when Dr Qasim Jan was the vice-chancellor. He said that we are paying scholarships to QAU. He said that we do not charge a single penny from members and did not accept sponsorship from outside the alumni. He said we have no account and hence no one can seek our accountability.

He also announced awards for distinguished alumni and to create a revolving fund for poor students in addition to holding functions in different cities, issue newsletter and publish a directory.

Dr Asif Ali, President, Academic Staff Association, said that the university and its alumni are not for sale. He said that 200 plus hectares are in occupation of villagers, land mafia and institutions. He said that this is the debt of QAU on its alumni which it has to repay.

Former VC Dr Qasim Jan said that an average faculty of QAU is far better than average faculty of any university in the country. He said that we established Botanic Garden and spread the buildings in the sprawling Campus to ward off intruders.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Ashraf stressed the need of strengthening academic side and infrastructure in the university. He said that the campus is shabbiest. However, he claimed of taking steps to improve infrastructure and faculty.