Centenary celebrations at Islamia College, Peshawar: PM announces Rs 1 billion grant for infrastructure projects

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the Islamia College Peshawar did remarkable service to the cause of education in the province in its century-long history and called upon its students and teachers to maintain their high academic standards for meeting the challenges in different walks of life. The Prime Minister was addressing a huge winding up ceremony of centenary celebrations of the Islamia College Peshawar at its lush green cricket ground on Friday.
The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who is also the Chancellor of ICP Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan, Corps Commander, Peshawar, the Chairman Higher Education Commission Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, ICP Ajmal Khan, the President of Senior Alumni Association of ICP Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (Retd) were also present on the stage. The PM addressed the huge gathering of students, teachers, employees, old students and guest.
Recalling the centenary of Government College Lahore in 1964, the PM said it was his heartiest desire to attend the centenary celebrations of Islamia College, Peshawar. Referring to the address of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah which he gave as Governor General in April 1948 in the Islamia College, Peshawar, he said he was proud to address Islamia College students and teachers at the same place where Founder of Pakistan had given an address in 1948.
Expressing his affection with the Islamia College, Peshawar, PM Nawaz Sharif said though the weather was inclement a night before his coming to Peshawar, adding but he was determined to attend the centenary function no matter he had to come to this University by road.
Amid high applause, responding quickly and generously, the Prime Minister announced Rs 100 crore (one billion) for construction of various academic infrastructure projects at the University. He also announced Rs 5 crore (50 million) for the welfare of students and staff of Islamia College. The PM directed the Higher Education Commission, Islamabad to release that grant to the Islamia College, Peshawar against various kinds of infrastructure development projects.
Commenting on peace efforts, the PM said that a few years back, there was a terrible law and order situation in and around Peshawar because of terrorism. He, however, said that owing to untiring efforts and innumerable sacrifices laid down by security forces, police, efforts of government institutions and sacrifices of people, the law and order situation was now satisfactory.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of Islamia College, Peshawar, Ajmal Khan informed the audience about the historical services of this institution for the cause of education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its adjoining tribal belt. He specifically mentioned the love and affection of the Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to ICP. The Quaid, he said, had bequeathed one-thirds of his residual estate to this college.
He mentioned various kinds of problems, which the ICP had been facing since its upgradation to the University level in 2008, and said only generous funding could drive the institution out of severe financial problems. President of Senior Alumni Association of ICP, Lieutenant General Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai (retired), in his address discussed at length the way Islamia College, Peshawar had been playing its role in educating the youth of the province since the beginning of the 20th century. He said that being the first public sector institution in the province, the ICP had now become an inspiration for standard and quality education for the youth.
On behalf of ICP, KP Governor and Chancellor of ICP Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan presented a souvenir to the PM. PM Nawaz Sharif also gave shields and souvenirs to Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Provost Kamal, and Principal Islamia Collegiate School Shabbir Ahmad. Earlier, PM Nawaz Sharif landed at Hockey Ground of the ICP where a temporary helipad was set up for the two helicopters of his aerial convoy. He was given a red carpet welcome by the University's top authorities included VC Ajmal Khan, Registrar Dr Sareer Badshah, Deans of academic faculties, President of Senior Alumni Association. He straight drove to open a chrysanthemum exhibition where he planted a sapling in the garden. Many thousand students from Islamia College, Islamia Collegiate School, guests and old students accorded a rousing welcome to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his entourage.