Aga Khan University
(AKU) periodically organizes donor dialogues in many countries
of the world. In Pakistan, the event is organized annually to
inform the donors about the progress, growth as well as future
plans of the University and also to provide the donors with a
platform for exchange of views in respect of AKU and its activities.
 |
| Donors
on a tour of the newly inaugurated Women's Residences. |
This year, AKU organized
the Donors' Day on Sunday, February 22, 2004 at AKU's Stadium Road campus. Donors
turned up in unprecedented numbers. Present at the occasion were Ambassador
Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman of AKU Board of Trustees along with other Pakistan-based
members of the Board; President Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, members of the AKU's Resource
Development Committee for Pakistan, and members of senior AKU faculty and staff.
The programme for the day
began with a video screening at AKU Auditorium of the inaugurations
by the Chancellor, His Highness, The Aga Khan, of the Khimji Building
for cardiac services and Karimi, Noor and Arman Rupani Residences
as well as foundation stone ceremony of the Oncology Services
Building, held on December 06, 2003. Following the viewing of
the video, the guests were taken on guided tours that covered
the newly inaugurated Karimi, Noor and Arman Rupani Residences
as well as Nazerali-Walji Building inaugurated in the year 2002.
 |
| AKU
organised Donors Day, an annual event to inform the donors about
the progress, growth as well as future plans of the University
and also to provide the donors with a platform for exchange
of views in respect of AKU and its activities. |
On completion of the tour,
the donors proceeded to AKU's Sports & Rehabilitation Centre for the remaining
part of the programme. Before lunch, the donors were provided an opportunity
to visit the stalls set up by AKU's Family Medicine department, Marketing Department
as well as by volunteer-managed AKU Gift Shop. The Family Medicine booths, manned
by AKU's medical and paramedical staff, offered free assessment for cholesterol,
blood pressure, blood sugar, stress level and other health indicators. The donors
found this service very informative and useful. They waited enthusiastically
to get their assessments done.
During lunch, the Chairman
Board of Trustees, Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi and President Kassim-Lakha
addressed the gathering. Welcoming the donors, Ambassador Dehlavi briefed them
on matters relating to the governance of the Board, appointment of Princess
Zahra Aga Khan as a member of the Board of Trustees and the internationalization
of AKU. Kassim-Lakha informed the donors about the significant progress made
by the University in its role as a change agent, its attainment of a national
status and how the Institution is spreading its wings internationally over several
continents, including East Africa, Afghanistan, Syria, in accordance with the
vision of the Chancellor. He also informed the donors about the progress of
new projects including the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He took the donors
into confidence about the challenges faced by the University and its redressal
in the matter of shortage of faculty and staff, the need to take up new activities
without affecting the current programmes, the demand by indigenous patients
for increased financial assistance vis-à-vis limited availability of resources
to meet these demands. He fielded questions and observations from the donors
on various aspects pertaining to AKU.
The donors took keen interest
and participated extensively in various activities organized for
them during the day and appreciated the efforts made by AKU to
provide them with comprehensive information in such an interesting
manner. The participants also commended the University's "regular
and effective communication with the donors" and the "highly efficient
organization of its programmes".
More Pictures...
