KARACHI: Former vice chancellors of Karachi University (KU), scientists and teachers paid rich tributes to late Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan at an event held in his memory on the campus, describing him as a great nuclear scientist and a national hero.

They were speaking at a special governing council meeting of the Dr A. Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE) held in memory of the late scientist at its Jinnah Auditorium.

“Despite serious limitations, Dr Khan never gave up. It’s was only due to relentless efforts that Pakistan became the first Muslim nuclear state,” noted former KU vice chancellor Prof Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui.

One of his targets was to establish a knowledge-based society in Pakistan for which he dedicated his whole life and helped establish several institutions, he added.

KU pays rich tribute to the late scientist

Dr Muhammad Qaiser, another former KU VC, shared that Dr Khan had a multi-faceted personality. “His love for the country was unmatchable and he wanted the development of Pakistan in all walks of life. The education and health sectors were his topmost priorities as he was well aware of the importance of these areas.”

Speaking through a video link, Dr Dina Khan, the daughter of Dr A. Q. Khan, said her father remained attached to KIBGE till his death and used to visit the institution to speak to students, researchers, faculty and trainers of various programme on a regular basis despite his poor health.

“He was very happy that KIBGE was significantly doing well and researchers from all over the country were benefiting from the research and teaching activities taking place at the institution,” she said.

KIBGE director general Prof Abid Azhar described Dr Khan as a man of knowledge, a friend of literature and a great philanthropist, who struggled to serve humanity without discrimination.

Dr Anwar Naseem spoke about Dr Khan’s welfare plans and shared that he wanted to build a hospital in Lahore the construction work of which was already in progress.

KU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Khalid Mahmood Iraqi described Dr Khan as one of the most inspiring KU alumnus whose services to the nation were unmatchable.

“He was well versed in the art of building and nurturing an institution. He achieved true success in life as he is respected and loved by the whole country. He sacrificed everything to make Pakistan a peaceful nuclear state,” he said.

Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan, Mian Arshad Farooq, Prof Zabta Khan Shinwari and former director general KIBGE Dr Hassan Mujtaba Naqvi also spoke.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2021