Daily Times

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has expressed satisfaction over the quality of education provided at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), and hoped that it will emerge as one of the best universities of the world in the future.

Addressing the 130th Foundation Day anniversary of Sindh Madressatul Islam, now upgraded to a university, the chief minister also acknowledged the efforts of SMIU’s Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh in successfully running Sindh Madressatul Islam and transforming the dream of making it a university into reality. “SMIU has flourished through the times and now it is working as the best university of the country due to efforts of Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh,” he remarked.

The ceremony was attended by number of people representing different professions and sections of the society, also foreign diplomats.

The chief minister said Sindh Madressatul Islam (SMI) was established by a visionary person Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi at the time when Sindh was backward in modern education. Thus, SMI was second great Muslim educational institution after Aligarh Muslim University in the sub-continent.

Qaim Ali Shah hoped that in future he would see Sindh Madressatul Islam University as one of the best universities not only of Pakistan but of the world.

“Today we must pay tribute to Khan Bahadur Hassanally Effendi, who was behind the establishment of this great institution,” he said.

He said Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh was the first man, who convinced me to elevate SMI to the level of university and Dr. Shaikh had argued that SMI would be a different from other public sector universities in Sindh. Now, it really has emerged as a unique university in terms of its international linkages, quality of teaching and learning.

He also noted that about 130 years old historic and beautiful building of SMIU has been very well maintained.

Speaking on the occasion, Acting United States Consul General in Karachi, Chad Peterson said the US extends support to Pakistan in education sector.

US was providing Fulbright Scholarships and need-based scholarships to the students of Pakistan in a larger number, he said.

Director British Council for Sindh and Balochistan, Robin Devies said SMIU was a marvellous institution. Therefore, he was happy to participate in its 130th anniversary. He also appreciated the services of SMIU’s Vice Chancellor as well as the presentations given by SMIU’s nine students, who recently visited United Kingdom under ‘Future Leadership Programme’, jointly sponsored by SMIU and British Council. Indonesian Consul General in Karachi, Hadi Santoso said it was an honour for him to be there on the 130th anniversary of SMIU, which has motto of ‘ Enter to Learn : Go Forth to Serve.”

He hoped SMIU would strive to continue its educational services nationally and internationally in future.

Lauding the brotherly relations of these two brother countries, Indonesia and Pakistan, the Indonesian Consul General said that Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had supported Indonesia’s War of Independence in 1945.

Russian Consul General in Karachi, Olig Avdeer said that as SMIU was providing quality education to the younger generations of Sindh.

Hence, Russian Federation also wanted that SMIU and Russian universities should cooperate with each other in the field of learning and training.

Consul General of Switzerland in Karachi, Emil Wyss said the efforts of the people relating to this institution made its 130 years long journey possible.

He wished that after Noble Laureate Abdul Salam, the next Nobel laureate will come from Sindh Madressatul Islam University. He also offered cooperation to SMIU on behalf of Swiss universities.

Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh, in his presentation on the subject of Past, Present and Future of Sindh Madressatul Islam University, said that SMIU through its 130 years of service has produced a large number of great leaders including Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Talking about the international linkages, he said that SMIU has signed agreements with seven Chinese universities and was also working on collaboration with UK universities as well as other countries.

Dr. Muhammad Ali Shaikh also said the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan was supporting SMIU for opening its offshore campus in Colombo (Sri Lanka). Sindh Government should initially provide seed money for the project.

Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University Lyari, Akhtar Baloch and Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Ali Jinnah University Dr. Abdul Wahab also highlighted the role of SMIU in promotion of modern education in the region.

Earlier, students of SMIU who visited UK also shared their experiences and observations through their presentations.

A documentary on SMIU, prepared by SMIU students was also screened on the occasion. Prof. Dr. Asif Ali, Dean of SMIU’s Department of Computer Science presented welcome address. Dr Muhammad Ali Shaikh and other prominent personalities including foreign diplomats performed the cake cutting ceremony.