Daily Times

KARACHI: Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) has said that the university is going to organize an international conference on “Pakistan at 70” from 07 to 09 August this year, in Karachi as to mark the journey of 70 years of Pakistan.

He said this while briefing the media at a local hotel on Thursday. Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh said so far about 20 scholars of USA, Europe, Italy and other countries have confirmed to participate in the conference. “Around 50 to 60 national and international scholars are being invited to address the successes and failures in education, human development, social sector, economy, women improvement, political situation and other related subjects at the Conference,” Dr Shaikh said and added that kind of intellectual discourse will help the stake holders to form the policies for next 10 years, 25 years and 50 years of the country.

Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh announced that the first convocation of SMIU will be organized on 18th February, 2017, where the students of first batch of SMIU will be awarded degrees. “Four years ago, we had started university with the enrollment of about 112 students, now the figure of enrolled students is about 2000 students, which will increase in coming years as the resources and space of the university will expand. Sindh Madressatul Islam was started with 12 students in 1885,” Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh said and added that the SMIU imparts quality education to the students of all classes on the affordable fees.

Talking about the National Leadership Program (NLP) of SMIU, the Vice Chancellor said that SMIU is the only university that has started NLP for its students to groom them as the future leaders, because they belong to the Alma-Mater of the great leaders like Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Sir Abdullah Haroon, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto and others. “SMIU selects about 100 students on merit basis through the process of tests and academic performance for the national and international leadership programs. Amongst these students some are sent to foreign countries including UK, China, Malaysia and Turkey and the rest are sent to the visit of various national institutions, situated in Islamabad.

Dr Shaikh said that the last week a group of 45 students along with 19 faculty and staff members visited important institutions of Islamabad including President House, Parliament House, Senate, Supreme Court of Pakistan, Ombudsman’s Office, Headquarters of National Accountability Bureau, Federal Education Ministry, National Defence University, National University of Science and Technology, Riphah University, International Islamic University and Air University. During the visit SMIU delegation met with President of Pakistan Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, Chairman Senate Mr. Raza Rabbani, Opposition leaders in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Opposition Leader in Senate Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan, Mushahid Hussain Syed, Chairman NAB Mr. Qamaruz Zaman Chaudhry, Federal Ombudsman Mr. Salman Farooqui, Federal Education Minister Mr. Baleequr Rehman and others. “We want to create national harmony among the students of various provinces through the NLP,” said Dr Shaikh.

Vice Chancellor of SMIU said that the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan’s Quality Assurance Agency has awarded top most “W” category to Sindh Madressatul Islam University’s QEC for consequently second year. The SMIU has received 86.58 points, out of 100 points for the “W” category, in terms of quality of education, and on the basis of multiple parameters including its evaluation of academic programmes.

After the briefing question-answer session was held. The briefing was attended by a large number of media persons.