Last Sunday, Imran Khan delivered another promise when his brainchild Namal College in Mianwali was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. After Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore, its yet another gift from the Great Khan for the people of Pakistan. Located alongside of famous Namal Lake, Namal College will have full support from University of Bradford UK which has also granted it Associate College status. Although Imran has been working on this project since 2002, strangely, it got very little media attention until the launching ceremony of first phase of project. The idea is to gradually develop Namal College into an Oxford like world-class research university and knowledge city where scholars can work and study in an Oxford-like academic environment.
The most impressive part of this project is that majority of the students at the college/university will be on scholarships and come from areas where they would not have had the opportunities that the Namal College would offer. The Namal College will be of enormous benefit not only to the Mianwali district but also the whole of Pakistan. Over the long term, Namal College’s “Knowledge City” will act as a best practice model for other regions of Pakistan to extend its benefits nationally, like the Shaukat Khanum is doing today.
Imran Khan started to work on the idea to build a university beside Namal Lake (above) during 2002 elections when he was running his campaign in Mianwali District. He observed one of the highest level of unemployment rate among the youth who were mostly unskilled. Everyone young person he came across during that time, told him that they can’t get any job because of lack of education and technical skills. That’s when Imran decided that he would build a world class educational and they don’t have any technical training college in one of the most backward areas like Mianwali. A place like Namal College where even the children of poorest people can get quality education, technical training and employable skills, so that they could earn a decent living. Last Sunday saw the first phase of his dream come true.
According to The News:
A large number of people gathered on Sunday for the inauguration of the college, including government ministers, educationists, and donors alongside the people of Mianwali, who have so generously donated the land on which the college has been built.
Working alongside Imran for the last two years has been the University of Bradford, one of the leading universities in the UK, especially in engineering and management courses. The university has been ranked No 1 for graduate employment in the north of England in The Times League tables for the last five years and has a history of developing and delivering high quality and demand-driven degree programmes as well as an excellent reputation for research.
In December 2005, Imran was appointed the university’s first international chancellor, succeeding four previous chancellors, the first of whom was Harold Wilson, Labour Prime Minister of Britain.
The University of Bradford has granted ‘Associate College’ status to Namal College. Commenting on the importance of the partnership with the Namal College, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bradford Mark Cleary said, “The university does not award Associate College status lightly. In our 42-year history since we were granted our Royal Charter, we have given this status to only eight Associate Colleges in the United Kingdom and only three around the world. We were, however, inspired by the vision and values for Namal College, which we felt were very similar to our own and to the commitment for excellence, exemplified by Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, also a partner of the university, which we know will be demonstrated here at Namal College too.”
The Bradford University will be involved in designing the courses and curriculum, in ensuring quality assurance mechanism and training and development for the faculty. Courses will be delivered in 4 phases. The Phase I will offer certificate courses, Phase II diploma courses, Phase III degree course and Phase IV research degrees.
The initial curriculum will be focused in the following areas: Construction (masons, carpenters, electricians), automotive engineering, electrical engineering with emphasis on appliances repairs; agricultural equipment engineering, development and maintenance, and cement industry work.
Let us hope and pray that this project fulfills its objectives of providing the best quality educational, research and technical training opportunities to the poorest and most neglected segments of our society. Anyone interested in knowing more, how can s/he help and donate, please visit official website of Namal College or goto Tehreek-i-Insaf website. More information on Namal College can be found here, here and here.
Note: Most of the photographs have been provided by Ahsan Mansoor of PTI, Lahore. Click on the links for rest which will take you to original photographer’s website.
Darwish,
If we premise it on IF he gets a chance, then we can say the same for many professionals in Pakistan who have distinguished themselves–IF they get the chance, they may deliver. The trouble is that the chance needs to be created, it is not given out on a platter to people–that’s politics for you–in any country.
To say that he will be better than Zardari, NS, the military is all well and good–so would many others–but are they viable candidates–it is the viability that I was questioning.
The viability is created by becoming a political player. I also don’t agree that the main reason for this is that “considering the political setup we have, it is impossible for anyone else with moral principles and values to achieve anything significant even if they have people
Ayesha wrote:
I think PTI runs more like a fan club than a political party
I’ve come across this post a bit late and in a search for something else, stumbled upon it. Reading the comments, I agree that it is a big achievement on the part of IK to deliver this, but in terms of him being a viable alternative, I would have to agree with the prescient analysis of Babar and Niaz earlier.
IK has to his credit the victory of the Pak Cricket Team, SKMT, and now Namal College, but his political decisions (in the five years he has spent in Parliament) were often faulty.
He voted for Fazlur Rehman as PM in 2002. He opposed the Women Protection Bill, to name a couple. In addition, he cannot be an alternative to Nawaz Sharif or some other political big wig because he has failed to build a team. Until he has the requisite numbers in Parliament, under a parliamentary system, he is not a viable candidate for PM so until he is able to do that (and he has not been able to in 12 years–a really long time in politics).
I also agree with Babar about him being a divisive figure who always has a maximalist position. His strengths clearly lie elsewhere and he may be best for Pakistan if he focuses exclusively in that area, much as Abdus Sattar Edhi or other philanthropists in Pakistan have done.
I just don’t see PTI becoming a major player politically–even if they win 10 seats in the provincial assembly and five in the NA (a very big stretch–but let’s just say for argument’s sake)–it will still be a very minor player–smaller than not just PPP and PML-N, but also ANP, MQM, etc.
I think PTI runs more like a fan club than a political party–it does not have any big names (and I don’t necessarily mean old politicians but noteworthy scientists, lawyers, doctors–anybody with name recognition)–which would be essential for a viable party. IK is all in all–and great as he may be, that is just not how you become a big political player in a democracy–you need massive support from others who are politically active–this is the case not just in Pakistan but elsewhere too.
Obama would never have gotten where he is without the support of other key big political players–like John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, etc. IK has just not cultivated that–which is why I say he is running PTI more like a fan club than a political party.
Mr. Imran Khan is that person who always want to see Pakistan as prosperous and bright country in the world. He has a very wide vision in our present leadership. He is straight forward and true one . He has done a lot for Pakistan ( such as world cup, Cancer Hospital, now this international level college). Thanks Imran and hope one day Pakistani nation will reward your these excellent activities and offer you their leadership for Pakistan. Best wishes and good luck. Dr. Javed Saggu (Physics)
Its a great job done by Imran Khan, he is setting high standards for his opponents, he really want to change the fate to ummah dont loose this lad, support him by donation, now real Pakistani will come forward becasue they will get quality education