KARACHI, Sept 1: Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammad Mahar, on Monday, announced a donation of Rs2.5 million for Sindh Madressahtul Islam (SMI) on behalf of the provincial government.

He made this announcement while speaking as chief guest at the 118th founding day of the SMI. To mark the occasion, a ceremony was held at SMI auditorium.

Federal Education Minister Zobaida Jalal, who is also the chairperson of the SMI’s Board of Governors, could not attend the ceremony because of her pressing engagements in Islamabad. The ceremony was also attended by the Consul General of the United States in Karachi, Douglas Rohn; Chairman of Sindh Public Service Commission, Hassan Bhutto; and President of Sindh Madressahtul Islam’s Board, Nisar Ali Effendi.

While announcing the donation of Rs2.5 million on behalf of the provincial government, the chief minister said that the amount was meant for development work and promotion of academic facilities at the institution.

Tracing the history of SMI, he said that the institution was established by Khan Bahadur Hassan Ali Effendi in 1885. The institute was set up on non-commercial basis to spread awareness and education among Muslims so that they could progress and lead better lives.

He said that it was incumbent upon all not to forget the mission and objectives of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had been a student of Sindh Madressahtul Islam. “We all should make concerted efforts for the progress and prosperity of the country,” he added.

The chief minister said that he was honoured to visit the alma mater of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Later, the chief minister cut a cake to mark the celebrations.

Earlier, in his welcome address, SMI Principal Prof Mohammad Ali Shaikh said that the institution was set up on this very day 118 years ago by Hassan Ali Effendi.

At present, the number of faculty members at the institute had grown up to 100, who were imparting education to 2,000 students, he said. The institution also had computer centre, laboratories and technical centre, he added.

Prof Ali was of the view that the Sindh Madressahtul Islam deserved to be a university of distinction and said that he was pursuing the goal of attaining such a status for the institution in the years ahead.—APP