KARACHI, Jan 18: The city Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, led a limited but impressive walk, organized at the University of Karachi, on Friday, in connection with the New Campus Day.

A number of ex-students of the university, who earned prominence in various walks of life, among others attended the march which started from the Silver Jubilee gate of the university. The spirit behind the march was to amulet the spirit and style of January 18, 1960, when about 40 huffaz led by late Maulana Ehteshamul Haq entered the new campus, while reciting verses from the holy Quran.

One of the senior university teachers recalled that the University of Karachi was established by an Act in September 1950 and it started working, initially at the residence of Prof A. B. A. Haleem, the first vice chancellor of the university. After completion of the first phase of the construction at the present site, the university was shifted from a congested premises at Princess Street and started functioning with an impressive ceremony.

About a dozen of alumni and teachers as well as the city Nazim, besides vice chancellor Dr Zafar Saeed Saify, while reciting from the holy Quran, marched up to the Administration Block. After offering ‘Dua’ the participants assembled at the main auditorium of the university for a speech session.

Those who participated in the traditional walk, revived only a decade back, included Dr Irtifaq Ali, Prof Shahabuddin, Prof Shahana Urooj Kazmi, Dr Nadra, Prof Hasnain Kazmi, Syed Sifwanullah, Prof Aqil Burney, Prof Abuzar Wajdi, Dr Abdur Rashid, Prof Raunaq Raza, Prof M. Faheemuddin, Azhar Hasan Siddiqui, Azhar Abbas Hashmi, Prof Kafil Ahmed, Prof Malahat K. Shirwani, Dr Javed Hussain and many other former and present students of the university.

Speaking at the Arts Auditorium of the university, the city Nazim regretted that the educational system of the country could not be brought in line with the ideology of Pakistan despite passage of over 50 years. He said important personalities, pioneers of the Pakistan Movement or those who had played a significant role in the creation of Pakistan had been omitted from syllabi and history books.

“It is unfortunate that we could not present Pakistan before the world as an Islamic and welfare state so far,” he added and mentioned that at least Karachi would be transformed into an Islamic and welfare city.

He said the University of Karachi had played an important role in the education and training of those who came to Pakistan after its creation. The University of Karachi was a part of the Pakistan Movement as it rendered academic support and advanced the ideological identity of the city which emerged immediately after migration of people to this part of the country, he added.

The vice chancellor of the university, Dr Zafar Saify, said the university stood out as number one university of the country as its leadership in the past worked selflessly and devoted themselves for the promotion of higher education. He said the university enjoyed the international reputation as well and after completion of some more ongoing research and teaching projects pertaining to Biological and Social Sciences the situation would further improve.

The president of the Unikarians, Syed Safwanullah, said universities identified the ways and means for building of nation and it should continue its role irrespective of moral collapse or any other deterioration in the society.

Other speakers were Prof Hasnain Kazmi, Azhar Hasan Siddiqi, Azhar Abbas Hashmi and Prof Kafil Ahmed. The Unikarian — an old alumni association - had arranged the walk and the meeting.