KARACHI: Professor Muhammad Zakaria Sajid, one of the founders of the mass communication department of Karachi University, passed away on Thursday. He was 96.

The funeral prayer was offered at Masjid-i-Ibrahim in the university, after which he was laid to rest at the KU graveyard.

Karachi University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Iraqi, a large number of journalists, his students, faculty members, and staff among other officials attended the funeral.

According to a Karachi University press release, Prof Sajid, who was born in 1928, started his teaching career in 1966 as a lecturer at the then department of journalism at the University of Karachi.

He was promoted as assistant professor on August 28, 1977, associate professor on October 11, 1982, and professor on December 08, 1985.

During his tenure, the department of mass communication was established in 1986, of which he was founding member. He retired as the chairman of the department in 1988, but continued to teach there as an adjunct professor for a long time. He was the director of the Press Institute of Pakistan.

In 2014, the then president of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain awarded him Tamgha-i-Imtiaz.

KU VC Dr Iraqi expressed deep sorrow at the demise of Prof Sajid, prayed for his departed soul, and acknowledged his services in the field of journalism.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2024