Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President, AKU, presenting a memento to the chief guest, Mr. Qutubuddin Aziz, a former diplomat, writer and social worker, during the 55th Independence Day celebrations at the University.

Narrating the events following the birth of Pakistan, Mr. Aziz said that after the partition, Pakistan was left with almost nothing compared to what India had gained as a result. "However, in the decades ahead, Pakistan has developed and prospered, and Aga Khan University is the symbol of its success," added Mr. Aziz.

Looking back on the pre-partition days, he gave an account of the tremendous contributions of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, especially to the rebirth of the ailing Aligarh University of India, in the form of Rs. 3 million that he raised at that time. "Then, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah had given the Muslim world the Aligarh University; now his grandson, His Highness the Aga Khan, has gifted Pakistan with one of the finest medical colleges . the medical college at AKU has produced graduates that are recognised globally. Its faculty has produced such noteworthy works and researches that can make AKU a trendsetter in medical research," he noted. He said, he was confident that in the years to come, Pakistan would grow more and more prosperous.

Felicitating the audience on the memorable day, Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha spoke of AKU's academic journey in recent years, as the University expanded geographically and programmatically, contributing to the development of Pakistan. He said in the recent decade AKU had expanded its programmes to other regions of the world - to East Africa, UK and Central Asia. Summarising AKU's initiatives over time, Dr. Kassim-Lakha said nursing and education programmes had been started in East Africa, and discussions are under way to start residency programmes there in 2003. Located at Khorog, Tajikistan, he described the University of Central Asia as being the first university dedicated to the study of mountainous regions. He said the University was making a new approach to medical education in the form of problem-based learning. "It is through these programmes that AKU has in its own little humble way, contributed to the development of Pakistan," Dr. Kassim-Lakha added. He also mentioned other new international initiatives of the University, such as the rehabilitation programme in Afghanistan, as well as the initial phases for planning of nursing programmes in Syria.

He also announced the appointment of the first dean of a school of nursing in Pakistan - Dr. Yasmin Amarsi, formerly the associate dean of AKU School of Nursing.