By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features
Services)
Glowing tributes were paid to the late
Chancellor of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET), Karachi , Engr Z A Nizami
at a condolence meeting held under the auspices of the Institution of Engineers
at its Karachi Centre on April 13.
The emotionally charged speakers, on the
occasion, highlighted the various facets of the life, achievements and the
services of Engr Nizami for the development of the city of Karachi
and particularly for the promotion of cause of engineering education in Pakistan .
Addressing the gathering, the newly elected
President of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) and
the Chancellor SSUET, Engr Adil Usman, described Engr Nizami as a person of
unmatched and outstanding qualities.
He acknowledged having learnt a great deal
due to his long and close association with Engr Nizami when the latter was
Director General of KDA, President of AMUOBA and as Chancellor of SSUET.
Engr Adil Usman revealed that it was in 1986
when upon the request of the Aligarhians, Engr Nizami assented to become the
President of AMUOBA and he turned it around with his unmatched to
transform the Association into a dynamic and vibrant organization.
He recalled said an outstanding quality of
Engr Nizami was that he always helped the less privileged people regardless of
their cast, colour and creed and it was because their prayers for him that
Allah granted him so much of respect.
Chancellor Adil Usman reckoned that Karachi
as it is today was because of the vision of Engr Nizami and his services for
rehabilitating the poor masses through various housing schemes will always be
remembered.
He said it was an unprecedented that never in
his life, Engr Nizami said “No” to anyone approaching him for help.
He pointed out that the Aligarh Institute of
Technology (AIT) came into being in 1988 and it was raised on a plot earmarked
by Engr Nizami for the purpose and also for a project which was literally
translated to become an engineering university in 1994 which gives a true reflection
of his unmatched vision.
The voice of Chancellor Adil Usman choked
while stating that the 16th Convocation
of the SSUET was the last official function attended by Engr Nizami
notwithstanding the fact that he was so physically weak but only the love for
the university made him not to miss the occasion.
Homage was paid to Engr Nizami by Engr
Jamshed Rizvi, President IEP, and Engr Mian Sultan, Secretary IEP, who
specially flew from Lahore
to attend the meeting.
Engr Jamshed Rizvi recalled his as well as of
his father’s association with Engr Nizami, observing that he had been the true
follower of great educationist and reformer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.
He said that the establishment of an
engineering university in the name of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was an accomplishment
of Engr Nizami which no ordinary mortal could have performed.
He described Engr Nizami an institution in
himself and adding that his death has created a big void which cannot be filled
in years.
Engr Mian Sultan described the SSUET as
“Sadaqa-e-Jaria” for Engr Nizami and urged the upcoming engineers to follow
suit to leave a legacy in their lifetime. He advised the IEP Karachi Centre to
name one of their convention centres after Engr Nizami.
Engr Ayaz Mirza, Secretary, IEP Karachi,
remarked that Engr Nizami was always willing and happy to be of help to the
cause of the engineering community, having consistently extended moral and
financial support to the IEP in carrying out its activities for the welfare of
budding engineers.
He remembered Engr Nizami as a man of
positive attitude and unmatched vision and it’s time for the young engineers to
derive inspiration from him.
Speaking on behalf the family members of his
father, Mr Farrukh Nizammi, shed light on various facets of the life of Engr
Nizami as father, as an administrator and as an educationist and said they will
not be able to come out of state of shock for a long time.
He said he was a loving father, an ardent
administrator and a dedicated server of the cause of education.
Engr Mohammed Shafiq, a former Controller
of Buildings and now a PEC Consultant for SSUET, turned emotional when he
spoke about the loving and affectionate attitude of Engr Nizami. He believed
that whenever the history of Karachi
will be written, Engr Nizami’s name will be on the top.
Others who also spoke on the occasion
included Zafar Zuberi, former President IEP, and Gulzar Memon, ex-Chief
Engineer KWSB. At the end of the speeches, Dua-e-Maghfirat was offered for the
departed soul.
The condolence meeting was also attended by
the family members of Engr Nizami including his sons and daughter who came from
Washington to
take care of his father and remained with him till he breathed his last on
April 7.
