Australian educationist praises The Hub School

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Hub School, founded by the Jaffer Foundation and situated on the outskirts of Karachi, has started attracting the educationists from abroad and among the many, the noteworthy of them was Patricia Johnson, an Australian who is teaching about 8,000 Chinese in China. 

Whilst Abdul Kader Jaffer, the current President of the Jaffer Foundation, a former Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK, was also the President of the English Speaking Union (ESU) for Pakistan, while Patricia was the ESU President for Australia and Queensland. 

Talking to media at Hub School after a visit along with his husband, Patricia recalled that she had met Abdul Kader Jaffer met at many international conferences over the years and she admired him very much indeed. 

She added that Pakistan had hosted an ESU Conference in 1997 and she was absolutely amazed at the hospitality, especially extended by Abdul Kader Jaffer himself. It was the most remarkable of any conference she attended, Patricia complimented. 

She also remembered her visit to Lahore, Islamabad and Moen Jo Daro, the 5,000 years old ancient city Referring to her visit to the school, she spoke about her meeting with the Principal, the Deputy Principal and the staff who thoroughly impressed her. 

The school, although is at its early stage, had quite a good enrollment with not only paying students but also many on scholarships. Patricia appreciated the greenery developed around the school and said that while walking around the manicured lawns and pretty shrubs and glorious purple bougainvillea, she could not help but realize millions and millions of rupees have already been invested by the Jaffer family and generous friends and donors. 

"What an exceptional gesture this is for the future of the young men and women of Pakistan,” she remarked adding that this school will be the leading and most successful school in the country due to the diligence and persistence of Abdul Kader Jaffer, a driven man, and his loyal and supportive board of trustees and staff, all on a mission to ensure this project comes to fruition to education generations of children for the future of their country. 

Patricia said that she and her husband were thoroughly impressed and astounded that The Hub School has been built to emulate the English style of boarding schools in Karachi and was sure that the students from around the world will be on a waiting list in a few short years to attend. 

"What will be a school breeding successful men and women in law, medicine, engineering, the military and government and indeed all walks of life,” she reckoned. 

The all credit for this goes to Abdul Kader Jaffer who proved himself as a successful diplomat and businessman, having given many years to NGO’s and especially our ‘like-minded’ ESU. 

Paying her compliments to Abdul Kader Jaffer, Patricia said he served his nation as an Ambassador for Pakistan in London. His home and office and The Hub School are adorned with his pictures and paintings with his famous father besides renowned dignitaries from all over the world. 

 According to her, to return to Pakistan this time was amazing. There has been such a change and they were astounded by how much western influence there is and how many spectacular buildings there are. 

"We were amazed that this huge project is just extraordinary! The Jaffer Family Foundation has donated 240 acres of land about an hour out of town and the school has been surrounded by a 10 ft high wired brick wall with security guards 24 hours a day to protect their students. The buildings are the latest and of the highest quality and everything has been planned meticulously,” he noted. 

“There is quite a good enrollment at this early stage and we were pleased to hear that not only are there paying students but many on scholarships. The boys were quiet, polite, very well behaved and beautifully dressed in their white shirts and ties and khaki trousers. Lunch was delicious and served very professionally by well trained staff,” she continued. 

"And this is Pakistan! An amazing place, even more impressive than it was last time I was in this lovely bustling fascinating country,” she observed in her concluding remarks adding that The Hub School was a very special project that they will follow with great interest and hope they can also contribute in some way to the success that it will obviously enjoy in the years ahead.

The Hub School set to create waves

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The visionary as well proactive approach of its promoters, Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation, is set to make The Hub School, a not-for-profit boys’ boarding school a model educational institution.

The school started its operations with 50 boys a few months ago much to the delight of the great Abdul Kader Jaffer, a man with the Midas touch, who is leading the project. 

The inaugural batch of 50 students from all over the country set the ball rolling as The Hub School, situated on the outskirts of Karachi in the vicinity of Northern Bypass near Sindh-Balochistan border, aiming to forge a national identity and consciousness by fostering close links and cooperation amongst all students as Pakistanis. 

Education is a Jaffer Family legacy to Pakistan. The Islamia School in Pune was founded in 1907 by Ahmed E H Jaffer’s great grand Father Khan Bahadur Haroon Jaffer while Sir Ebrahim Haroon Jaffer organized the first Muslim Educational Conference in 1920. 

Ahmed E.H. Jaffer had introduced reforms as a member of the Indian Legislative Assembly in 1940 and later after partition in the Pakistan Legislative Assembly he raised several bills and motions for improvement and increase in the allocation for education. 

"Besides creating a middle-class for future good leadership and good governance in all fields, The Hub School will also produce young boys with character, discipline and integrity for a better world and a better and more prosperous Pakistan,” Abdul Kader Jaffer, the present President of the Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation and a former Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK, remarked in an exclusive interview.

“By the Grace of Almighty Allah, The Hub School has become operational and the classes have commenced. We have begun our journey with special prayers for the prosperity of the country, school and for the wellbeing of our respected donors,” Abdul Kader Jaffer, President of The Hub School, who has also headed the English Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP), stated

He informed that after return from UK on completion of his assignment as Pakistan High Commissioner from 2000 to 2003, he had been working on this most challenging task of setting up a boarding school initially for 135 boys to be gradually increased to 800 boys in the next 5 years, followed by a boarding school for girls and finally a University of national stature on 240 acre of land donated by the family besides Rs 50 million in cash.

According to him a dormatory for 135 boys is in use while another dormatory for 135 girls will be ready by next year to start boarding school for girls which will start from next academic calendar in August 2017.

“The Hub School is the first boarding school in this area which will provide quality education to all on merit. We believe providing quality education to our youngsters is the only viable alternative to curb extremism and to produce leadership in all fields from young men and women who are broad-minded and enlightened,” Abdul Kader Jaffer, who founded the Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation in 1996, observed.

“It is our mission to provide quality education to our younger generation at the Hub School as per the high standard available in USA & UK. I am sure we will be able to achieve these objectives with the kind and generous support of all our friends, relations and well-wishers both in Pakistan and abroad,” he added.

The objective of the Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation is to work mostly but not limited to in the fields of education, healthcare and sports and for this purpose raised a fund of over Rs 800 million from generous donors in Pakistan and abroad, AKJ stated.

The Hub School has a Board of Governors comprising of eminent personalities like Aitzaz Shahbaz, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Lt Gen Tanwir Hussain Naqvi, Ghazala Nizami, Ismail Zakaria, Mian Mukhtar Ahmed, Aliuddin Ahmed, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Dr Masuma Hasan, Professor Haroon Rasheed and Professor Mohammad Rais Alvi.

The Hub School: Fulfillment of a cherished dream

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Hub School, a not-for-profit boys’ boarding school of excellence, has started its operations with 50 students thus making a cherished dream of the Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation a reality.

Its inaugural batch of 50 students from all over the country has set the ball rolling as The Hub School, situated on the outskirts of Karachi in the vicinity of Northern Bypass near Sindh-Balochistan border, aims to forge a national identity and consciousness by fostering close links and cooperation amongst all students as Pakistanis. 

"It will not only create a middle-class for future good leadership and good governance in all fields but will also produce young boys with character, discipline and integrity for a better world and a better and more prosperous Pakistan,” Abdul Kader Jaffer, the present President of Ahmed E. Jaffer Foundation and a former Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK, stated in an exclusive interview. 

"Education is a Jaffer Family legacy to Pakistan. The Islamia School in Pune was founded in 1907 by Ahmed E H Jaffer’s great grand Father Khan Bahadur Haroon Jaffer,” he recalled and explained that his grandfather Sir Ebrahim Haroon Jaffer organized the first Muslim Educational Conference in 1920. His late-father Ahmed E.H. Jaffer introduced reforms as a member of the Indian Legislative Assembly in 1940 and later after partition in the Pakistan Legislative Assembly he raised several bills and motions for improvement and increase in the allocation for education.

“By the Grace of Almighty Allah, The Hub School has become operational and the classes have commenced. We have begun our journey with special prayers for the prosperity of the country, school and for the wellbeing of our respected donors,” Abdul Kader Jaffer, President of The Hub School, said. 

He informed that after return from UK on completion of his assignment as Pakistan High Commissioner from 2000 to 2003, he had been working on this most challenging task of setting up a boarding school initially for 135 boys to be gradually increased to 800 boys in the next 5 years, followed by a boarding school for girls and finally a University of national stature on 240 acre of land donated by the family besides Rs 50 million in cash. 

According to him a dormatory for 135 boys is in use while another dormatory for 135 girls will be ready by next year to start boarding school for girls which will start from next academic calendar in August 2017. 

“The Hub School is the first boarding school in this area which will provide quality education to all on merit. We believe providing quality education to our youngsters is the only viable alternative to curb extremism and to produce leadership in all fields from young men and women who are broad-minded and enlightened,” Abdul Kader Jaffer, who founded the Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation in 1996, observed.

“It is our mission to provide quality education to our younger generation at the Hub School as per the high standard available in USA and UK. I am sure we will be able to achieve these objectives with the kind and generous support of all our friends, relations and well-wishers both in Pakistan and abroad,” he hoped. 

“The objective of the Ahmed E H Jaffer Foundation is to work mostly but not limited to in the fields of education, healthcare and sports and for this purpose raised a fund of over Rs 800 million from generous donors in Pakistan and abroad,” he shared. 

He remarked that the institution has a Board of Governors comprising of quite a few eminent personalities like Aitzaz Shahbaz, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Lt Gen Tanwir Hussain Naqvi, Ghazala Nizami, Ismail Zakaria, Mian Mukhtar Ahmed, Aliuddin Ahmed, Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Dr Masuma Hasan, Professor Haroon Rasheed and Professor Mohammad Rais Alvi. 

He revealed that the Board planned to meet on November 21 in which some important matters concerning The Hub School will be discussed.

Celebrities make sports gala memorable

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s leading cricket star Kamran Akmal has exhorted the young students to work hard not only for academic achievements but also in their extracurricular activities including sports like cricket, hockey, football etc. to come in their practical future as great academicians and sportsmen.

“It is time for them to focus on their studies as well as sports activities to achieve their cherished objectives which otherwise would not be possible without hard work”, he said while briefly speaking at the Annual Sports Gala of The Educators, Renaissance Campus, held at Pakistan Sports Board’s Karachi Centre on January 21. 

Celebrities from the various walks of life were the focus of attention of a big gathering of parents and kids and youth at their Annual Sports Day. 

They included Pakistan’s former High Commissioner to UK, Abdul Kader Jaffer, noted lawyer and former Justice of Sindh High Court, Barrister Khawaja Naveed Ahmed, former Karachi Commissioner, Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui, besides sporting legends like Kamran Akmal, Wasim Bari, Islahuddin, Iqbal Qasim, Shoaib Mohammad, Jan Mohammad and Tanvir Ahmed. The ceremony was conducted by the famous sports journalist and analyst, Ehsan Qureshi.

Their presence made a hay day for parents and their children who unabatedly took selfies with the star sportsmen besides seeking their autographs. 

On the occasion they presented medals to schools children who achieved 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in various sports including cricket, hockey and athletics events. 

Kamran Akmal laid more emphasis on achieving physical fitness and said that only then the grooming children could think about becoming stars in various sports. 

Pakistan’s former High Commissioner to UK and Chairman of Jaffer Foundation, Abdul Kader Jaffer, observed that Pakistan needs a strong leadership which could lead the country towards progress and prosperity and bring the country to join the world’s most developed comity of nations.

He described the occasion a hay day for both parents and students and recalled that he, when he was of their age, used to take part in the same way in sports and their parents used to show delight like parents of today. 

He advised that besides taking part in sports, they should take greater interest in their academic activities as Pakistan would need to have good leaders in the coming future and it is the right time they should plan for the same. 

Through another advice he exhorted them that when they grow up and enter their practical life they will be expected to take care of their parents same way their parents are taking their care. 

“You have to make a strong, progressive and prosperous Pakistan and for this they need to focus on their education for which this is the right time,” he emphasized.

Earlier on arrival Abbdul Kader Jaffer was warmly greeted by a huge crowds of parents and their children besides students taking part in various sports. 

Eminent lawyer and former Justice of Sindh High Court, Barrister Khawaja Naveed Ahmed, called upon the students not to waste their precious time in uncalled for activities and rather focus more on their education so as to achieve the goals which might have been set for them by their parents. 

He delivered a typically inspirational little speech on the occasion which enlightened the students as well as their parents present on the occasion.

“You can achieve their objectives provided they maintain their physical fitness as well as achieve excellence in their educational life. Nothing is impossible to achieve, provided there is dedication and commitment to the cause. If we have achieved big name in our field, it is solely because of dedication and commitment without which every effort will prove futile,” he remarked 

“Today reminds me of my own childhood and that of my kids, who are grown up now. I still vividly recall such ceremonies in which I had participated as a student and then watched my children pass through this phase. Isn’t it quite extraordinary that parents, particularly mothers, appear more sentimental about the success of their children than the children themselves,” he added.

Australian High Commissioner addresses ESUP gathering in Karachi

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan, Peter Heyward, impressed everyone with his thorough understanding of the game of cricket during his keynote address to theEnglish Speaking Union of Pakistan (ESUP) at the Hotel Beach Luxury, Karachi, on June 21.

The topic of his speech was ‘Cricket in Australia’ and he dwelled at length at the various aspects of the gentleman’s game. 

He enlightened the audience by sharing the historic perspectives in a candid manner and the intensity was sustained throughout half an hour as he combined his own thoughts while recalling the incidents having brought out about the most significant changes.

The High Commissioner touched upon the bitter memories of the early 20^th century when six of the leading cricketers of his country, including the legendary Victor Trumper, had revolted against the board. He also recalled the crisis of the 1970s when a man called Kerry Packer had taken on the cricket establishment of Australia.

The ESUP function, for a change, began with a presentation as Ehsan Qureshi, a veteran sports journalist and a prolific author, was invited at the stage to present copies of his World Cup books to the Australian High Commissioner who was appreciative of the gesture.

Aziz Memon, President, ESUP, while introducing the Australian High Commissioner prior to his speech, described Peter Heyward as an articulate foreign service officer, having brought laurels to his country during his long and illustrious diplomatic career which took him to different corners of the world.

In his welcome address, Majyd Aziz, ESUP, talked about some of the memorable cricket matches having taken place between Pakistan and Australia over the years. He particularly recalled the Melbourne Test of 1979 when Sarfraz Nawaz had turned the tables around by dismissing seven batsmen for only one run.

The man who had been in the thick of things during that match, having watched that magnificent spell from behind the stumps, Wasim Bari, was also present in the front row of the audience and the former Pakistan captain was duly recognized by the ESUP President at the start of the proceedings.

The interactive session turned out to be an interesting one and theAustralian High Commissioner tried to do justice with every query posed to him. 

He pointed out that those desiring to travel to Australia for the Cricket World Cup 2015 will have to submit the normal visa forms and their cases will processed in routine manner.

Abdul Kader Jaffer, Senior Vice President, ESUP, and a former Pakistan’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, presented the vote of thanks in the typically lively style of his.