Karachi, Sindh

The Literary Society of Sindh Madressatul Islam University Karachi organized ‘Faiz Mela’ on Saturday, November 30, 2024 to pay homage to Faiz Ahmed Faiz, one of the great poets of Pakistan.

Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai in his address expressed his deep-rooted love for literature. He encouraged students to embrace Faiz’s ideas of enlightenment and romance, which he believed, will remain everlasting.

He shared a personal anecdote, revealing that his father, Taj Sahrai was honored with the title of “Sahrai” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz himself. This connection added a heartfelt touch to the event, underlining Faiz’s enduring influence. The Vice Chancellor enlightened students about his father’s surname, “Sahrai,” which was gifted to him by Faiz Sahab due to Taj Sahrai’s profession and travels around the archaeological sites in Sindh.

Noted educationist and intellectual Professor K.S. Nagpal delivered his keynote speech which was a profound reflection on Faiz’s life, poetry, and philosophy. He emphasized how Faiz’s words continue to inspire contentment in life, resonating deeply with the audience.

Renowned poets Abdul Rehman Momin and Anwar Shaoor presented some of their finest works. The highlight was a dynamic shair-o-shayari exchange between the two poets, leaving the audience thrilled and mesmerized by their wit and eloquence. The poetry recitation was a celebration of emerging poetic voices, featuring seven poets moderated by a talented young girl of SMIU. (PR)

Read: Turkish Universities, Sindh Madressatul Islam University to collaborate in Higher Education

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Wardah Javed, the sister of Ms. Samreen Javed, a faculty member at Sindh Madressatul Islam University, was kidnapped on Sept. 30, 2024, in the jurisdiction of Maripur police station

Karachi, Sindh

Ms. Wardah Javed, the sister of Ms. Samreen Javed, a faculty member at Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU), was kidnapped on Sept. 30, 2024, in broad daylight in the jurisdiction of Maripur police station, Keamari district of Karachi, however the police have remained inactive so far and no efforts were taken to recover the woman.

“It is highly anguishing that in broad daylight, a woman has been kidnapped in Karachi, and despite the passage of several days, she has yet to be recovered,” Asif Hussain Samo, President, and Quratulain Nazeer Ahmed, Vice President, Sindh Madressatul Islam University Teachers’ Association (SMUTA) said in a statement on Monday October 7, 2024.

“The family is enduring extreme distress, and despite lodging multiple complaints and the FIR, they continue to await justice from the police department,” Quratulain Nazeer Ahmed, Vice President, SMUTA said.

Sindh Madressatul Islam University Teachers’ Association vehemently condemned the abduction of Ms. Wardah Javed, the sister of Ms. Samreen Javed and police inaction.

“The family immediately approached the police and registered First Information Report (FIR). However, despite the urgency of the situation and the passage of more than a week, there has been no significant progress by the authorities,” statement said.

Read: IGP admits Kidnappings and Street Crimes are Significant Issues of Sindh

SMUTA asserted that the security situation for women in Karachi has reached alarming levels if they can be kidnapped without consequence, even after families have lodged complaints. “This incident highlights a grave concern for the safety and security of all women in the city.”

President and Vice President of SMUTA, expressed firm stance on the issue, stating that the family is waiting for justice and the immediate recovery of Ms. Wardah, as well as action against the perpetrators.

SMUTA called upon the Inspector General of Police and other government authorities to urgently address this matter, prioritize the recovery of Ms. Wardah, and bring those responsible to justice.

Read: Sindh Chief Minister admits rise in street crimes, kidnappings for ransom

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Karachi, Sindh

Some 150 brilliant and economically disadvantaged students of SMIU Model School (75 boys and 75 girls, aged 13-16- enrolled in grade 7, 8 or 9) will be taught English language under the English Access Scholarship Program funded by the Regional English Language Office (RELO) through the U.S. Mission in Pakistan.

Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai Memon, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University (SMIU) and Ms. Sidrah Niaz, Chief Executive Officer of Evolution, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the University Campus in Karachi.

Ms. Anastasia Kolivas, Public Diplomacy Officer, Public Diplomacy Section and Ms. Aisha Zeeshan, English Programs Manager from the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi, Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman, Sindh Higher Education Commission, Prof. Dr. Jamshed Adil Halepoto, Dean, SMIU, Prof. Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Dr. Arabella Bhutto, Vice Chancellor, University of Sufism and Modern Sciences, Bhitshah and Momal Raza, Lecturer at University of Sufism and Modern Sciences, Bhitshah were also present.

The MoU will come into force on May 5, 2024 and continue till February 28, 2026. Access classes are expected to begin from June 2024. The classes will be conducted thrice a week (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) at SMIU Model School.

Besides learning the English language, the program also develops the student’s digital literacy skills. The Access Program will also focus on students’ personal development by building balanced intellectual and emotional capabilities to better prepare them for future academic and professional endeavors.

According to the MoU, the program will hire four qualified teachers, each responsible for a class of 25 students and one academic coordinator. The program will provide periodic training on the Access curriculum to ensure effective teaching methods. Moreover, it will supply course materials and additional resources to support the students and teachers.

The students will receive a daily transport allowance of Rs.135 (may vary due to dollar rate fluctuation) to facilitate their attendance.

Read: History of Sindh Madressatul Islam 

The agreement further says that the program will organize outdoor events including field trips, service-learning projects, UN/U.S. celebrations and professional development sessions to enhance the student experience.

Vice Chancellor of SMIU Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai Memon welcomed the guests and appreciated the efforts of the U.S. Consulate General in Karachi for the uplift of education in Pakistan.

Ms. Anastasia Kolivas appreciated the efforts of Sindh HEC for their openness and commitment towards implementing the Access program at three universities in Karachi, Umerkot, and Bhitshah. She also discussed various U.S. government-funded opportunities for potential future collaborations aimed at enhancing the higher education sector in Sindh.

Prof. Dr. Tariq Rafi, Chairman Sindh HEC, appreciated the linkages between the U.S. Consulate General and the higher education institutes (HEIs) in Sindh. He said that ventures like the Access Program are necessary for capacity building of students. He stressed the need for more in-depth and extended linkages between the U.S. Embassy/Consulate and HEIs of Sindh.

Ms. Aisha Zeeshan briefed the dignitaries about the U.S. government-funded English Programs and how these have impacted the lives of many underprivileged youth by empowering them with English language skills. She said that the teachers have also been trained well throughout the RELO program. She thanked the Sindh HEC chairman, SMIU’s Vice Chancellor and all other vice chancellors present in the ceremony and pledged to continue collaborating with them in the foreseeable future.

Wafa Mansoor Buriro, Assistant Professor at English Department of SMIU shed light upon the partnership between the English Department of SMIU and RELO Pakistan developed in the past few years. The ceremony ended with the presentation of shields to the guests by Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai Memon. (PR)

Read: Global Research Congress recommends making Culture & Languages part of curricula

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The 2-Day 2nd Global Research Congress has been organized by Sindh Madressatul Islam University Karachi

Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

The speakers at the inauguration ceremony of the 2nd SMIU Global Research Congress held at Sindh Madressatul Islam University on Wednesday said that the nations of the world are facing many challenges including environmental change, poverty, social issues and terrorism at regional as well as at the world level, therefore, they have to collectively overcome these challenges and research scholars should find solutions of the issues through their research.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan while addressing the inaugural session virtually said this congress is a very important initiative, because Consul Generals of two best friend countries of Pakistan – China and Turkiye are participating in it along with other foreign speakers, hence we all have to think about the collective solutions to the challenges being faced by the humanity.

Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed was of the view that these congresses are providing opportunities to learners, researchers, faculty and students. “Also the participants who are coming from different areas and countries learn from each other’s experiences, knowledge and research work. Apart from it, this congress will establish a network between the participating scholars for working together in future.”

The HEC Chairman hoped that this congress will end up with a roadmap that how could we collaborate with each other in different areas. He advised the Vice Chancellor of SMIU Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai that he should share the road map and findings of the congress with the HEC Pakistan as they could develop a strategy for development of the higher education and the society.

Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University in his speech welcomed the guests who came from Russia, USA, UK, Vietnam and UAE and other parts of the country to participate in the 2nd SMIU Global Research Congress.

Talking on the background of holding Global Research Congress the vice chancellor said that it was the idea and dream of the young and dynamic faculty of SMIU to organize the Congress with five international conferences last year. He said that as he always believes in confidence of youth, so they organized the successful 1st global research congress last year. This is the second edition of it and that has attracted a large number of scholars across the Pakistan and abroad than the previous congress.

Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai said this Global Research Congress is a brand of Sindh Madressatul Islam University in Pakistan, thus it will produce good results that will benefit to the nation and the country as well as at the global level. He further said that SMIU is moving forward in research work and it is publishing 6 research journals which are recognized by the HEC Pakistan. Also SMIU’s research output by faculty has increased a lot. The vice chancellor said that he is a researcher and preacher, hence this conference will come up with certain output as we are organizing six international conferences as well. Therefore, its findings will be shared with all stakeholders nationally and internationally.

In his speech, Consul General of China in Karachi Mr. Yang Yundong, specially mentioned the brotherly relations of Pakistan and China. He said in 2017, China’s first university launched the Pakistan-China Corridor, but today 16 Chinese universities are affiliated to Pakistani universities, some of them are also teaching Urdu language. He said China is cooperating with Pakistan in many fields, including global warming. CPEC is also a comprehensive plan for better relations between the two countries, which is being further improved.

The Consul General of Turkiye in Karachi Mr. Cemal Sangu said that Turkiye has very historic and emotional connection with Sindh Madressatul Islam as Sultan Abdul Hameed of the Ottoman Empire had given two highest civil titles of Turkiye to Sindh Madressatul Islam’s founder Hassanally Effendi and that were “Bey” and “Effendi by recognizing his services for modern education in Sindh and support to Turkiye in the war with Russia.

He said that they will build a mausoleum of Hassanally Effendi in Hyderabad Sindh soon. The Turkish Consul General said the Global Research Congress will play a significant role in promotion of the research in Pakistan and other countries.

Noor Ahmed Samo, Secretary Universities and Boards, Government of Sindh in his speech said that it is a unique and different Global Research Congress in its theme, hence certainly it will share actionable recommendations to the government of Sindh for their implementation. He congratulated the vice chancellor, and faculty of SMIU for organizing such huge congress. He said that being a representative of the Sindh Government, Sindh is the only province in Pakistan that understands value of higher education more than other provinces of the country. He said the provincial government of Sindh allocates 23 billion rupees as a grant for 29 public sector universities and about 12 billion rupees for their development schemes, on the contrary the government of Punjab allocates only 5 billion rupees for its universities.

Earlier, the 2nd SMIU GRC was inaugurated by Consul General of China Mr. Yang Yundong, Consul General of Turkiye Mr. Cemal Sangu, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madressatul Islam University Dr. Mujeeb Sahrai, Secretary Universities and Boards Noor Ahmed Samo, Russian scholar Dr. Solnyshkina Marian Ivanovna, American scholar Prof. Dr. Keith, UK Scholar Dr. Shajara Ul Durar and others by lighting a globe. On this occasion the vice chancellor of SMIU gave away souvenirs to the guests also.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by vice chancellors, academicians, experts of different fields, faculty, staff and students in a large number.

Also read: Research and Production: Pakistan lagging behind developed countries

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