Eminent educationist Dr Abdul Wahab passes away

Karachi

An asset to the country’s already ailing education system, Dr Abdul Wahab bid his final adieu, on Tuesday, after having fought over a decade-long battle with cancer.  

His funeral prayers would be held on Wednesday (today) at 1:30pm at the Masjid-e-Ibrahim located within the premises of the University of Karachi (KU), while his burial would take place at the varsity’s graveyard.

Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001, the educationist had since been in and out of hospitals, but accepted the position of Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi chapter’s president in 2002. He resigned from the position only a few months before his death.

A distinguished educationist, Dr Wahab besides teaching at several educational institutes was appointed as director of the prestigious Institute of Business Administration (IBA) after its inception in 1984; he served on the post till April 1995.

He was, however, offered the post of KU’s vice chancellor which he held from July 6, 1994 to November 9, 1996. He then came back to IBA as the institute’s dean in November 1996; a position he held till July 1999.

Dr Wahab had also served as dean of KU’s faculty of business and also served as a member of the varsity’s Syndicate.

Second oldest son of Dr Wahab, Babar Wahab, told The News that his father’s health had deteriorated in the past few months, so much so that several relatives settled abroad had returned to the city, owing to uncertainty of his medical condition but returned back once he was declared stable by the doctors.

He further informed that, Dr Wahab was placed on the ventilator on Sunday night when his condition destabilised. “Unfortunately, false news regarding his death started doing the rounds on social media a night before his death, and nobody from the family was contacted for confirmation,” his son stated. 

He added that, “Already tensed due to the overall situation, by midnight I was telling everybody that his condition was not good but he was still alive. It was on Tuesday afternoon that he breathed his last.”

Dr Wahab has left behind four children, three sons and a daughter.  

Profile

Born in Tonk, Rajashtan in India, Dr Wahab had migrated to Karachi with his family in 1948.

He did his matriculation from Taleemgah High School and took admission at the SM Arts College from where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

He did his MBA from IBA and joined the institution as a lecturer. He later earned a scholarship to Canada from where he completed his PhD in international business. In 1978, he returned to Pakistan and joined again IBA as deputy director where he was promoted to the position of director.

In his book ‘Reforms in Government Departments’, Dr Wahab shared his experience of serving at IBA and KU in detail and proposed changes in accordance with his educational expertise.

The late professor was widely known for standing by his principles strongly but his personal life was totally the opposite of his professional persona.

At home Dr Wahab was said to be a very polite, kind and loving individual. Dr Wahab was the last of the four brothers to have been alive; he also had a sister.

Colleagues’ condolences

Honouring the renowned scholar’s academic and administrative services, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Qaiser expressed deep sorrow over Dr Wahab’s death and said his services would forever be remembered.

In a condolence message issued by the IBA, officials had paid tributes to their colleague maintaining that Dr Wahab was an outstanding person and a professional.