KARACHI, March 30: The Governor of Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, has said that Karachi with its improved infrastructures and modern facilities would be a different city in two years.

He said this at the launching ceremony of three books published in Urdu by the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology for bachelor’s and master’s class students on Wednesday.

The governor said the pace of development had been accelerated and plans were being executed in Karachi with proper funding from governments. Among other things, a considerable expansion in industries was also taking place, which would certainly improve the employment situation and cause reduction in the poverty level, he added.

About the stock market, he said there had recently been some problems at the Karachi Stock Exchange, but it had again crossed 8,000 points after some corrective measures taken by the government.

He said the law and order situation had improved in Karachi and the province during the last couple two years. Confidence had been build up, which in turn had moved the wheels of the economy forward, Ibad said, adding that investment is coming in every sector.

Coming on to the publication of books and progress by the FUU, the governor said that establishment of an Urdu university in the public sector was a great national service, and efforts of those people involved in its establishment and development would be remembered for long.

He, on the occasion, announced to sponsor three PhD students, one each at the three campuses of the varsity, in Karachi and Islamabad. An amount worth Rs1 million would be provided for each case.

The authors of the three books, Prof Seema Naz Siddiqui, Prof Dr Azam Choudhry and Dr Syed Mohammad Shamim presented copies of their books to Ibad and Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui. The names of the books are: Nisabi Rekaziat (knoweldge of fossils), Pakistan; ek umoomi mutaleya, and Imraz-e-Jild (skin diseases).

He said, based on his experience, he felt that there was a need for some sort of books in Urdu on moral values and improvement of police services.

The Deputy Chair Senate, FUU, Jamiluddin Aali said the government had granted an amount of Rs30.7 million for the varsity’s translation house, and hoped that it would be publishing about 200 books in Urdu for 31 disciplines for the varsity within five to six years.

In his concluding remarks, the varsity Vice-Chancellor, Dr Syed Iqbal Mohsin, said admissions to the university were given purely on merit on an all-Pakistan basis. He said the varsity administration aimed at spreading education, and creating an atmosphere for teaching and research in Urdu.

Dr Aslam Farukhi, the supervisor of the translation house of the university, also spoke.