AN ADDRESS TO AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY 2003 CONVOCATION

Mir Zafarullah Jamali, Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Bismillah-Ir-Rahman-Ir-Rahim.

Your Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of the Aga Khan University;
Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad, Governor of Sindh;
Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar Sahib, Chief Minister of Sindh;
Mr dear brother Shamsh Kasim-Lakha, President of the Aga Khan University;
Faculty members, dear graduates, distinguished guests;
Excellencies;
Ladies and gentlemen.

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

As mentioned, it is a fact I am not new to the Aga Khan University. I have been here many times through many years but in this capacity as the Prime Minister it is really an honour and a pleasure to be here today for the convocation of this distinguished university and that to in the company of the Chancellor, His Highness, the Aga Khan himself. What I admire more than anything else in the philanthropic activities conducted in the good name of the Aga Khan is that they are aimed at one or other humane purpose in getting results that leave a lasting impact on society.

You, my young friends, who are receiving your degrees today, are indeed fortunate in having remained part of this great venture for so many years. That is why I would like to open my address by congratulating you on your success and also expressing appreciation of the dedicated faculty, which helped you on your way. You have acquired knowledge and skills that must now be put to the test in the practical world. I have no doubt you will live up to your teacher’s expectations and exceed the trust, the faith and the love that your families have bestowed upon you.

Two decades ago on March 10, 1983, the Aga Khan University received its charter as Pakistan’s first private university. Since then it has become a national institution with an international reputation, contributing in a positive measure to the improvement of health and education in our country.

I am particularly pleased that it has become a dialogue partner with the Government of Pakistan and many Pakistani institutions, lending its wisdom and experience to the shaping of new and a fruitful health and education policies.

Excuse me, I have a bad throat. I think I need some treatment at the Aga Khan.

It makes one proud to know that the Aga Khan University has now carried Pakistan’s flag beyond our borders, answering calls for help and assistance for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda and so many other countries in Africa. Its teaching tests have been established in East Africa where teachers and educators, doctors and nurses and the people of the region are going to benefit from new health and education programmes that were developed, tested and fine-tuned here in Pakistan. It is also good to know that the University is offering its expertise in rehabilitating nursing and education programmes in Afghanistan in the aftermath of decades of war and social unrest there.

As a matter of fact, from the Aga Khan University School the nursing part which initially went to Afghanistan, probably they were the first people to go there. The risk is taken but only for human service to our brotherly Muslim countries. 

Another excellent move of the Aga Khan University, which goes beyond professional education, has been to establish an Institute of the Study of Muslim Civilisations in London, just across the seas, across the oceans. A step, I don’t know how His Highness has envisaged this, but I think it is a programme which will bridge the divide between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. I am sure the Institute will do much to spread understanding of the different Muslim societies and knowledge of the contribution that Muslims have made in the past to enhance human knowledge, and continue to make to contemporary society.

Ladies and gentlemen! As Pakistan seeks to find its way to full and competitive membership in the global economy, the nation needs many more institutions like the Aga Khan University. Well, as mentioned by His Highness, hundred of universities might come up, they will inshallah come up, but I feel confident that Aga Khan University will keep its permanent posture as the leading one. In recent times Pakistan has made progress in improving its contacts around the world, particularly with neighbouring countries, and new and exciting channels of trade and commerce are being forged with them. We have gone to the aid of our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, and supported the Coalition forces in the fight against terrorism, which has earned for Pakistan new levels of respect, and credibility in the world community. But when it comes to other areas of progress ---- those affecting social development within the country --- there is much that is left to be achieved. And it so happens, that Pakistan needs the supports of its higher education institutions to bring about some of the long-awaited improvements.

This government has convincingly shown that it is committed to upgrading and reforming the education sector, because, among other things, it is critical to Pakistan’s economic and social development. New education initiatives are being implemented that will enhance primary school enrolment, increase training opportunities for teachers and school administrators, spread literacy and encourage public-private partnership for education. Within these programmes many opportunities exist for cooperation between the government and the Aga Khan University. It is heartening that its Institute for Educational Development has already entered into partnership for educational growth and social uplift, not only with the federal government but also the provincial governments and NGOs.

Our Government is no less determined to improving the quality of higher education.

Through a Task Force instituted for the purpose, members of the Aga Khan University played a major role in helping to define what needs to be done to get things moving and achieving positive results in this field. We look forward to Aga Khan University playing a continuing role in this national quest for academic excellence. Indeed the establishment of a new Faculty of Arts and Sciences in Karachi, and the officering of high quality general education, will be an important step in filling a critical gap in our higher education programmes.

Ladies and gentlemen! It is not by accident that Aga Khan University has grown to play such a prominent role in Pakistan’s march towards progress. The fact that this University was established in Pakistan rather that elsewhere, and the fact that the Aga Khan Development Network has all of its operation units actively working in Pakistan, is manifestation of the commitment His Highness the Aga Khan has made to social development in this country and we are thankful to your Highness. Your Highness, your faith in Pakistan is a source of inspiration and self-confidence for every one of us. And your continuous generosity is showing other members of society how philanthropic organization, such as the Aga Khan Development network, can lead the way in sustainable development, as also in supplementing the work of the government.

It is gratifying to learn that corporate donors from local companies and multinationals, and indeed individual donors, have contributed so generously to the development of our country through this University. In particular I was delighted to learn form Shamsh Kassim-Lakha’s speech that a munificent donation of one billion rupees has been made in the form of five new buildings on the campus. I think he must be having a tawiz to get all this money because others don’t get it.

And now I would lake to say a few words to the new graduates. My young friends! You are a very select, very fortunate group of young people. You have benefited from an education at one of the region’s finest educational institutions and your qualifications are and will be recognized worldwide. There is no limit to what you might do as you go out into the world, nor to what you might achieve. But I urge you, do not use that privilege only for your personal benefit. Employ your specialized education to help the under-privileged –as an example set by His Highness. Use it to ease the suffering of the sick without being motivated by money. Remember that no religion in human history has every prescribed the gathering of money as the purpose of life, neither is it the purpose of education. So, without thought for personal gain, use your education to empower people and backward communities. Help them replace despair, deprivation and hopelessness with optimism, opportunity and a sense of well-being.

More than anything else, if you go abroad do not forget your roots, what you owe to Pakistan, this is the base where you started from and it is required. We expect and would appreciate, definitely, that you must try to give some of it back by coming to work here among your own people. They will be more grateful to you than any foreign community, and you will earn their heartfelt prayers.

Mr. Shamsh Lakha, I am grateful you invited me here, as a brother, as a friend and it has been an honour and a privilege. The first time I attended this convocation was in the last century, that it was in the eighties. This is the new century, the twenty-first century. But I must, beyond the convocation and the health part, I must impart to the community one or two things, which I think in my assessment, otherwise I will be failing my duty to do so. The first to be in the gracious company of the 49th Imam of the family. I think I couldn’t be better privileged than this. Secondly, another honour my family has, with His Highness, we, myself, we are working in the third generation with The Aga Khan. This was many years pre-partition, when my elders worked together respectfully with His Highness, Sir Mahomed Shah Aga Khan. Of course, the University is a later addition. It will educate us more, we have to learn more. But these are aspects of life which must be known to people. This is why, as Zafarullah Jamali, I have kept my options throughout open to come here. Of course, this was mostly in connection to my son’s treatment here, who was here for a few years, and secondly, His Highness has been so kind, that where ever I have been, whatever I have been, whether I have been in office but mostly out of office also, but he has been very kind to remember this poor soul and the invitation comes throughout that I must meet Zafarullah Jamali this is graciousness, Your Highness, I am grateful to you for this.

Last few word, I don’t have any suggestions to tell my young graduates, the doctors, the university, the faculty, teachers, the set-up, the institution. It is an institution brought up with real hard work in anticipation to serve humanity. Two, three things count very openly as far as the human soul is concerned. Even the almighty Allah says I created you from one soul. In that perspective humanity counts a lot your service. My options today mostly revolve around education, health and the engineering part, all three linked with human service, human survival and humanity. So as doctors you have yourself willingly opted to take up this responsibility so you will have to give extra work without of course charging for extra duty, that will be difficult, but I think the satisfaction one has in the medical field once you serve humanity there is no better satisfaction when the patient you treat is sound healthy and he walks out of the hospital because the best thing that you can earn from him are the prayers. In my assessment, as far as this University is concerned, as the work and the mission taken up by His Highness and the community, I cannot say anything else that you’ll have all my prayers as the Prime Minister, as the Government, and as the citizen of Pakistan. I wish you all well. God bless you all. Pakistan paindabad.