ISLAMABAD - The Higher Education Commission (HEC) would establish a Hajvery Sufism Chair at one of its universities.
HEC Chairperson Dr Javaid Laghari announced this at "An Evening with Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi: Role of Literature & Higher Education in Growth & Development of Pakistani Society" organised by Inter-University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences (IUCPSS), an alliance of 16 universities across the country.
The main purpose of the chair would be to undertake various academic activities for the promotion of the values of peace, tolerance, and interfaith harmony, and towards the understanding and propogation of Sufism. Dr Laghari asked Prof Dr Hussain Mubashir Malik, senior fellow HEC and member governing board University of Health Sciences Lahore, to prepare a working paper for the consideration of the HEC to establish the chair.
The Chair has been dedicated to Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh who was great Muslim Saint and devoted his life for preaching the message of Islam. He was a great author of his time and wrote many books including Diwan-e-She'r; Minhajuddin; Al-Bayan Lahal-Al-Ayan; Israrul Kharq Wal-Mauniyat; Behrul Quloob; Kitab Fana Wa Baqa; Birri'ayat Be-Huqooq-Ullah; Kashful Israr; Sharah-e-Kalam; and Kashful Mahjub.
Federal Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rasheed while giving his presidential remarks on the event said Qasmi has become an icon of knowledge, humour and wisdom. He has presented immortal characters through his columns, dramas, poetry and other writings.
Federal Minister of State for Education Muhammad Baleeghur Rehman said, "Our society has become degenerated in many aspects. We can learn more from social sciences and social scientists can help us in reforming the society and promoting the knowledge."
Chairman of Inter-University Consortium and Vice Chancellor of University of Gujrat Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin said in his opening remarks, "No society can progress without promoting literature and culture.
Pure Sciences can help us in increasing our GDP but the true torchbearers of our society are always our poets, intellectuals, scholars and writers. It is very essential to establish Chairs of Literature and Sufism in different universities for promoting peace in Pakistan.
Renowned anchorpersons and columnists also spoke about the columns of Qasmi saying that the columns of Qasmi are specimens of versatility of thought. Vice Chancellor of Government College University Faisalabad Dr Zakir Hussain, renowned poet Dr Inamul Haq Javed, and former senator Rozeena Alim Khan also talked about the works of Qasmi.
Qasmi said only truth and knowledge can save our society. He suggested other writers to speak truth because truth is the only key to our progress and for the welfare of society. He also recalled his 25 years at MAO College Lahore in a humourous way and in a witty style.
The Vice Chancellors of different universities, renowned writers, poets and intellectuals along with the officeholders of HEC were the guests at this occasion.