KARACHI, Jan 25: Federal minister for labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis on Sunday offered the control of a hospital building in Hub, Balochistan, to a community known for entrepreneurship.

The event at which he did so was organized to mark the 56th death anniversary of Sir Adamjee Haji Dawood by the Pakistan Memon Educational and Welfare Society. "This is the age of partnership between the public and the authorities," said Abdul Sattar Lalika.

"That's why I want to hand over a hospital building to you which is complete in all respects, including elelectrification and fixtures. Take over and run this hospital which is located in the workers' colony in Hub."

Mr Lalika remarked that a wrong decision made by a national leader could ruin several decades of national life. He recalled how the ginning factories owned by his family were nationalized by Z.A. Bhutto's government and how when the same were returned by Ziaul Haq's government they had been stripped of their machinery and equipment.

The minister expressed his determination to stand alongside President Pervez Musharraf in his struggle against the militants. "Killing of a Muslim brother is not Islam. Handing over guns to young men is also not Islam."

In his speech as the chief guest at the "Adamjee Day" ceremony, Mohammadmian Soomro said the qualities that Sir Adamjee Haji Dawood had were the same which ensured success both in the world and the Hereafter. He especially recalled the moment when Sir Adamjee handed over a blank cheque to Quaid-i-Azam when the country faced difficult times.

The gap between the needs and expectations of the people and the resources available with the authorities was considerable. He urged the well-to-do people present on the occasion to help bridge this gap.

Chairman of the Senate underscored the need to first create and then strengthen educational institutions. He praised the establishment of the Sir Adamjee Institute of Technology and said he would hold discussions with the provincial government for granting a charter to the institution.

Mr Soomro was of the opinion that creating excellence in a limited and restricted sort of manner was not advisable. "We have to create institutions and organizations that can compete and cope with international competitors."

Earlier Zahid Adamjee, a grandson of Sir Adamjee, recalled the services rendered by his grandfather. He urged the chairman of the Senate to help the Sir Adamjee Institute of Technology obtain a charter soon.

Ashrafjee Adamjee said Sir Adamjee was born in 1880 in a poor family. However, by the time he died 68 years later he had established the Muslim Commercial Bank, Adamjee Insurance Company and Orient Airways, which was the forerunner of PIA.

"The Pakistan Memon Educational and Welfare Society is a continuity of the Memon Educational and Welfare Society which was established by Sir Adamjee in 1933 in India." Last year, said Mr Adamjee, the society paid out millions to 11,000 students in stipend and scholarship.

Meanwhile, three cheques of Rs1 million each were presented to the society by various philanthropists. The cheques were sponsored by Ahmed Abdullah, Dr Joe, Abdul Chhotani, Amin Kothawala and the Ko-ordination Group.

After the ceremony, A.R. Daroowala of the Sir Adamjee Institute of Technology told Dawn that his institution was affiliated with Karachi University. In addition to information technology, training and education in business management were also imparted there.

"We have several batches of Masters and Bachelors in Computer Science. But this year we have also launched a programme of Bachelors in Business Administration."