KARACHI, May 23: The chemistry department of the University of Karachi will hold different academic and funfair events from May 27 to 29 to celebrate the golden jubilee year of its establishment. The chemistry department, which had begun teaching activities for a limited batch of students in 1954, at present enjoying enrolment of about 1,700 students belonging to honours and masters in organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry, besides preparing students for MPhil and PhD degrees.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday at the Karachi Press Club, the chairman of the chemistry department, Prof Iftikhar Imam Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the organizing committee for the celebrations said that so far the department had produced about 7,000 graduates, many of whom were now serving within and outside the country.

“I proudly say that almost in every reputable firm and organization in the production sector and in the pharmaceutical sector there are graduates of the department working on important and responsible positions”, the chairman added, saying that some old students of the department have won fame nation-wide and world over.

The alumni, who assisted Prof Imam Naqvi during the press conference, included Yakoob Karim, Mazher I Khan, the secretary of the celebration committee, former KU dean of sciences faculty Dr Ronaq Raza Naqvi, dean of KU Pharmacy faculty Dr Najma Sultana, Arshad Zaman Khan, Prof Ziaur Rehman Zia and Prof S Asghar Ali.

The chairman said that on the occasion of celebration the services of former chairpersons and departmental heads, all old students and teachers and non-teaching staff would be eulogized.

He hoped that the occasion would be a source of linkage among students, teachers, researchers and the industrial personnel having graduated from the chemistry department, prominent of them would also be presented with shields during the three-day celebrations.

The vice-chairman of the organizing committee, Yakoob Karim, said that the purpose of the event was also to develop relationship between the industry and chemistry department, which would ultimately help undertake result oriented researches aimed for the betterment of local industries.

The first day programmes of the golden jubilee celebrations include inauguration and exhibition of stalls of different products available in the market through services of the academics.

The second day will be an academic day wherein renowned scholars and scientists will deliver speeches, focussing on previous and present standards of teaching and research of the department.

The third day of the celebration will be devoted for Chemistry family funfair and get-together and award distributions. Some of the personalities expected to attend the celebrations are the KU vice-chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim, Khalid Sherwani, Ali Raza, Dr Salim Akhtar, Dr Mahboob Mohammad, Dr Sarfraz Niazi, Dr Qasim Mehdi, Senator Nisar A Memon and HEC Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman.

To a question, Prof Imam Naqvi said that despite the fact that majority of the alumni were already aware about the jubilee celebrations others who wanted to participate in events of the exhibitions or join the funfair should contact him immediately.