KARACHI: To eulogize the efforts put in by Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu in the founding of Urdu University, an assembly was organized by Daera Adab-o-Saqafat, Dhaka Group of Institutions and the Babul Islam Educational Society on Thursday.

Presided over by Prof Dr Ata-ur-Rehman, the assembly was addressed by Jameeluddin Aali, Dr Peerzada Qasim - who was designated as the first vice-chancellor of the University by Dr Ata on the occasion - Azfar Rizvi, Fatima Surraiya Bajiya and Zafar Mohiuddin.

Praising Aali for his services for the Anjuman and also in the founding of the Urdu University - a dream nurtured by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Maulvi Abdul

Haq, former Governor Akhtar Hussain, Noorul Hasan Jaffery - and also the support provided by former federal minister Moinuddin Haider, Dr Ata termed the occasion a historic one.

The struggle for the establishment of the University was far greater than even the difficulties which Sir Syed had to encounter in his time, he commented. The medium of instruction in the University will, of course, be Urdu, but in a particular case any other language could also be used with the approval of the senate.

Education is the greatest power on earth and no cause could be greater than promotion of education, he said, and sought the financial support of the well-to-do people in the country and abroad, particularly scientists, doctors, engineers and experts in different disciplines to help promote the University and bring it at par with internationally-reputed institutions.

Dr Ata lamented that the academic level of the universities in Pakistan was not equal to international standards and that 75 per cent of teachers in higher educational institutions were non- PhDs. He, however, explained that most part of the budget allocations and even the aids coming from donor agencies were being diverted to primary education, depriving the universities of their share.

In an age of knowledge explosion, when researches in chemistry, biochemistry and other branches of sciences were doing miracles and the facts seemed to be far more amazing than fiction, the backwardness in education would be disasterous, he said.

Dr Ata said that Pakistan had gained great success in information technology and was far ahead of India in the field. He said the government was about to launch four new TV channels to promote education in the far-flung areas.

Syed Azfar Rizvi, speaking on behalf of the host forums, announced a scholarship of Rs10,000 each for ten students from the next academic session. —HA