Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday broke ground for Al-Qadir University here which he said will create future leaders to counter Islamophobia and protect ideology of Pakistan.
Addressing the ceremony, the prime minister said the university will teach the students the principles of State of Madina and Pakistan’s ideology as envisioned by Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam. He said the concept of establishment of a university in Sohawa is to provide equal quality education to the youth across the country.
To be built at an area of 200 kanals, the institution will consist of a Sufi Academic Block with capacity of 800 students, Science Block for 700 students, hostel for 200 boys and girls, an auditorium and a library.
The prime minister said it is a private university that will be run on donations by philanthropists contributing in national cause to broaden the educational base. He said 35 percent of the students will be given scholarships and get free education while rest 65 percent will fund their studies by themselves.
He said besides teaching contemporary sciences like artificial intelligence and technology, the main focus of the university will be research on Sufism and its connection with Islam. “We have to groom our youth as leaders.We will create scholars who will respond to the anti-Islam tirade started after 9/11,” he said, adding that Chinese assistance will also be sought for teaching and research on technology-related subjects.
The prime minister said the university has been named after Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani who happened to be a top Sufi and had also established link between Islam and spirituality. He said Sufism is a great science but contrary to western world, no university in Pakistan is holding research on the subject.
He said the previous leaders had buried the ideology of Pakistan which was meant to make the country an Islamic welfare state. He said the nations ignoring their ideology cannot exist. “Nations face ups and downs but they should not give up their ideology,” he said, adding that Naya Pakistan will feature meritocracy, justice and education, minority rights on the pattern of State of Madina.
He said what had been happening in Pakistan was never in accordance of an Islamic welfare state. He recalled that besides India’s role, the injustices to the people also contributed to the disintegration of the country.
The prime minister said the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) highly stressed the importance of education as no society can progress without education. He said unfortunately, the western culture has been influencing the young generation who need to be taught basic Islamic principles, Islamic history and Pakistan’s ideology.
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Nurul Haq Qadri, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Aviation Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Oversees Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari were also present at the ceremony.
