KARACHI: Sindh Governor Muha­mmad Zubair on Monday laid the foundation stone of the Sindh Madressatul Islam University’s (SMIU) new campus in the Education City in Malir.

The new campus, spread over 100 acres, would be completed in three phases. The federal government has approved Rs1.57 billion for the first phase, which would be completed within three years.

Officials said that during the first phase, infrastructure would be made, including hostels for 200 girls and as many boys; 35 staff residences, gym, sports facilities, housing for the vice chancellor’s secretariat, and other offices would also be constructed.

The total cost of the HEC-funded project is Rs12bn.

The new campus is a part of the designated site for the Education City established by the Sindh government.

Governor Zubair said he was proud to have visited the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and also lay the foundation stone for the new campus for SMIU, which was alma mater of the founder of the nation, on the same day.

“It is indeed a great honour for me to be in this ceremony when the Sindh Madressatul Islam University is beginning construction of its new campus. It is a huge occasion that the Prime Minister is presiding over a function for another mega project of the Islamia College University and I am here on his behalf doing the same in SMIU. They are the two of the three institutions to which the Quaid-i-Azam had beq­ueathed one third of his properties through his last will,” said Governor Zubair.

He said recently he had visited the Lincoln’s Inn in UK where a bust of the Quaid was inaugurated and placed in the 15th century educational institution, which was a great honour for all Pakistanis.

He said the Quaid was not just for Muslims, but he equally commanded respect among non-Muslims. There was a time when the Quaid led both the Muslim League and the Indian National Congress, he added.

“He was an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity, and we need to know more about this aspect of his life.

“On Aug11, 1947, he made it clear that Pakistan was a country for everyone irrespective of one’s faith, sect and ethnicity. Unfortunately, we have lost the way because we did not follow his path,” said the governor.

About the establishment of the new campus of the SMIU, he said it was the first campus of a public sector university where the foundation stone for a new campus had been placed in the Education City. He said it was good that every political party in the office chipped in for making the Quaid’s alma mater a great place of learning.

“I am here to assist the SMIU administration in completing this project well in time.”

Mr Zubair said the federal government was setting up a university in Hyderabad and a medical college at the University of Karachi.

Earlier, Dr Mohammad Ali Shaikh, vice chancellor of the SMIU, said the occasion was highly important; and it was the only second such occasion with equal significance in 130 years. He said Viceroy of British India Lord Dufferin inaugurated the Sindh Madressatul Islam’s historical main building on November 14, 1887.

He said the day for the foundation stone was selected as December 25, which was the birth anniversary of the institution’s most illustrious alumni.

He said the Quaid donated one-third of his property to the SMI equal to what he donated to the Islamia College University, Peshawar, and Aligarh Muslim University.

“At that time, the SMI got Rs10,800,000 from his donation.”

He said former president Asif Ali Zardari and former chief minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah had also immensely supported the cause; and, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had allotted 10 acres of land in Hawkesbay.

Ghulam Raza Bhatti, member operation and planning, HEC, said in the past 15 years, the HEC had completed 847 projects.

At present, he said, projects were being funded for the University of Sindh, SMIU, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law, IBA Sukkur etc.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2017