Pakistan’s forgotten sports heroes honoured

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s forgotten national sports heroes in boxing, cycling and football who brought glories to the country in Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other international competitions were honoured at a grand function organised by Sherwani Sports Trust on May 25.

Those who to be honoured on the occasion included Olympic boxer and Asian and CW Games medal winner Meherullah Lassi, South Asian Boxing Games Champion Rasheed Qambrani. 

Financial assistance was also extended to to distressed sportsmen of yesteryears and the beneficiaries included boxer Azeem Jan, cyclist Sher Haider, footballers Jan Mohammad Baloch, Mohammad Sharif and Jafar Alam and former Olympic referee/judge Ali Akbar Shah. 

They were also awarded shields and mementos as a token of acknowledgement of their heroic feats Sherwani Motors set a noble example by distributing cash awards worth Rs 200, 000 among the needy sportsmen. 

In an emotional discourse, the 2002 Busan Asian Games gold medalist Meherullah Lassi complimented and lauded Sherwani Trust for coming forward and supporting and assisting those neglected sportsmen mostly from Lyari area. 

“They may be from the past but continue to be counted as national heroes and deserve respect and support from the nation,” he observed. 

He hoped that more organizations will feel their responsibilities towards the neglected heroes in the field of sports and follow this noble gesture demonstrated by Sherwani Sports Trust and assist these poor, needy and jobless sportsmen.

“The basic purpose of holding this program was to support and assist those needy sportsmen, who were neglected despite their achievements for Pakistan,” Shujaat Sherwani, the chairman of the trust, stated. 

“We are really honoured with the presence of galaxy of international sportsmen with us. It’s the duty of the society to support these great men, who served the country bringing honor and dignity in international sports arena. It is always a great sight and feeling when Pakistan flag is raised and national anthem is played at the international stage,” he said in an emotional tone. 

Shujaat Sherwani also announced scholarships to highly talented boys and girls, specially from Lyari who may show bright prospects for the country in coming months. 

Describing the assistance extended as meager token assistance for financially distressed sportsmen, Shujaat said our dream is that Pakistan should regain its lost glory in hockey and other sports in Asian Games and Olympics. 

Shujaat Sherwani pointed out that in order to achieve the cherished objective he was also running a free cricket academy and hockey club and staged Motorsports Really in Hub and Nooriabad in recent months. 

Speaking on the occasion Justice (Rtd) Zafar Sherwani, who was the guest of honour, expressed his delighted to be standing among the heroes of the country, reckoning that sports can play a vital role in the development of youth of the nation. 

Justice Zafar expressed dismay that Pakistan once a great sporting nation of the continent failed to win a single medal in Muslim Solidarity Games held in Baku where small host nation Azerbaijan emerged on the top. 

On the occasion Meherullah and Rasheed Qambrani also planted trees as part of the ongoing Go Green Karachi slogan.

AMUOBA celebrating Sir Syed’s 200th birth anniversary befittingly

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) in collaboration with Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) has chalked out numerous programs during the current year to celebrate the 200th birth anniversary of the legendary reformer and educationist, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, in a most befitting manner.

This was disclosed by the AMUOBA President, Jawaid Anwar, who is also the Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET). 

He said that the preparations were in full swing in this regard and the events to be held would include a conference and a seminar besides the celebration of the Sir Syed Day in a grand style this year. 

“We plan to hold a bio-medical conference dedicated to Sir Syed Ahmed Khan later this year. We will organize a quiz competition on Sir Syed while the Sir Syed Memorial Lecture is also included in our plans. As many as three books on Sir Syed will be published and launched to highlight his monumental contribution,” the AMUOBA President revealed. 

The AMUOBA President reckoned that the concept of social reforms of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was based upon acquisition of modern scientific education. 

The key ingredients of this concept are proper upbringing, character building and tolerance and the Aligarh Muslim University proved to be the laboratory where these concepts were experimented, which produced students who possessed the above traits. The positive result of this experiment was the establishment of Pakistan.

IBA, Shanghai University to collaborate in masters programme

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Dr Farrukh Iqbal, Dean & Director, Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and Dr Nasir Afghan, Assistant Professor & Director, MBA Programme, IBA, participated in the 2nd Belt and Road Initiative University Presidents' Forum’ at the Shanghai University in China recently. 

Focusing on the theme, ‘Innovative Talent Development in University’, the forum brought together eminent educationists and academics from the countries across the proposed belt; providing an excellent platform to exchange insights and to encourage collaboration on agendas, such as university development and innovative talent development. 

During the visit, Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, on behalf of IBA Karachi signed an MoU with Prof. Jin Donghan, President, Shanghai University China, to collaboratively offer a ‘Master of Finance’ programme between IBA Karachi and Shanghai University China.

Having been established in, IBA, located in the bustling port city of Karachi, is the oldest business school outside North America. 

Initially the technical support was provided by the world famous Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania while later, the University of Southern California set up various facilities at the Institute and several prominent American professors were assigned to the IBA. 

The course contents, the curriculum, the pedagogical tools and the assessment and testing methods, developed under the guidance of reputed scholars from these two institutions, laid strong foundation for IBA which has persued the high standards and academic traditions it had inherited from Wharton and USC while adapting and adjusting them with the passage of time.

Founded in 1922 and immersed in the distinguished heritage and pioneering track record in a leading global city, Shanghai University is situated in the heart of Shanghai. 

They combine educational achievement with forward-looking courses, attuned to the latest city developments in science, technology and culture. 

Shanghai University is a member university of the national project 211 and is a research-intensive and comprehensive university. 

The university has witnessed continuous progress and advancement, have a clear and vibrant educational mission, with far-sighted objectives to cultivate talents with all-around development, global perspective and creative awareness. 

Shanghai University is also known for its vigorous international exchanges and cooperation. So far the University has established academic links and cooperation with dozens of foreign universities, including faculty and student exchanges. Currently, over 4,000 international students are studying on Shanghai University campuses.