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.
INDEED it is a great example of giving back to the society and the country that has given us so much.
INDEED it must be a lesson for those who were ZEROS some fifty years ago and thanks to Pakistan are rolling in wealth today. They still have time and plenty of opportunities to give back and do something.
If they don’t give back, it will be to their own peril.
Remember: Diseses and the consequences of ignorance in a society can not be stopped by the high walls of the mighty.
Zeenat,
I would respectfully disagree. I think our disagreement is with Imran Khan’s political abilities and not with his philanthropic abilities. The abilities required to fundraise for a hospital and to oversee its construction are very different from the tremendous task of governing the entire country. If Imran were to oversee the construction of 50 more hospitals, I would still not think that he has the ability to lead the country. Hopefully Namal College will turn out to be an extremely successful venture.
Coming to the questions of “the alternative”, a stronger argument for Imran Khan may be made since the other realistic options are so weak at the moment. On the one hand we have a man nicknamed Mr. 10 Percent and on the other we have one whose confrontational approach does not seem to have changed from his years in exile.
I would like to see people make an argument for Imran Khan based on solid reasoning. If he has brought a hospital and a college into being, this does not necessarily imply that he will be able to manage the economy, handle the security issues, and deal with foreign policy. With his confrontational approach gathering some adherents, a similar approach is not politically advisable as it will not allow his party to gain the backing needed to win an election.
thanks for telling uss about great achievment by a Pakistani for Pakistan. keep on telling every one about these sort of news these things really incourages youth like us to do some thing for Pakistan. keep this news in spot light it deserve that.
Thats my hero…
He is My Leader :). I see him as a leader not a politition. Inshallah he will come into power by people of pakistan not with any NRO or collaboration with establishment. Not now but comming future….