Reporting by Imran Malik
On January 22, Leads University celebrated its 14th Foundation Day with a grand event at its impressive campus. The Chairman, Zahoor Wattoo, warmly welcomed each guest with his charming personality and posed for photographs with them individually.
The campus basement was packed with guests from all walks of life, including notable personalities such as influencer Qasim Ali Shah, journalist Hafeezullah Niazi, Lahore Press Club President Arshad Ansari, Dr. Amjad Saqib of Akhuwat Foundation, Punjab University Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Khalid Mehmood, and Taha Qureshi, who came from England. The event was emceed by Professor Ishtiaq Ahmed Gondal, whose humor and vibrant personality kept the audience thoroughly entertained.
Zahoor Wattoo personally seated every guest but remained standing throughout the function himself, a testament to his dedication. Several speeches stood out during the event:
- Dr. Amjad Saqib emphasized applying Allama Iqbal’s philosophy to transform our lives.
- Hafeezullah Niazi highlighted how dual education standards are causing significant challenges.
- Taha Qureshi stressed the need to improve our education standards and rely on our own strengths.
- Qasim Ali Shah advocated for focusing on middle-class students to identify their potential, citing the example of how Indian Punjab is undergoing an educational revolution.
- Dr. Usama Razi of Jamaat-e-Islami delivered a short but impactful speech, stating that the current system is entirely broken and small fixes won’t suffice; instead, a complete overhaul is essential for Pakistan’s future.
- Dr. Uzma Zareen from Punjab University recited a poem in Persian and garnered much appreciation for its Urdu translation.
The event concluded with Chairman Zahoor Wattoo cutting the Foundation Day cake and expressing gratitude to the guests for their presence.
Key Themes Highlighted:
- The outdated system needs a complete overhaul.
- Dual education standards are a root cause of many issues.
- Progress can only be achieved by embracing Iqbal’s teachings and focusing on educational reforms.