AIOU pays rich tribute to Dr Zaki

Speakers at a condolence references paid rich tributes to renewed educationist and founder of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) late Prof Dr Wali Muhammad Zaki for his outstanding contribution to promotion of quality and affordable education in the country. In recognition of his services in development of distance-education, a newly-established academic complex of the AIOU has also been named after Prof Dr Zaki. AIOU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi announced this while addressing a reference held in the memory of late Prof Zaki.
Dr W M Zaki who recently passed away in Houston (USA) after protracted illness remained the vice-chancellor twice from 1973 to 1975 and from 1990 to 1992. He was the first Pakistani who was awarded PhD by Howard University. Dr Zaki also served as secretary of national education commission. He also worked as advisor/consultant in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Nepal as the representative of Unesco. Dr Zaki made tremendous contribution to establishing the university on sound footing. His role in making the university ever-lasting and most viable institution for promoting distance education in the country would be remembered forever, said Dr Sangi.
He said the mission of Dr Zaki to take quality education to every nook and corner of the country should be kept alive and the officers and the staff of AIOU should work with zeal and dedication to fulfill his mission following in his footprints. Dr Sangi said that AIOU was now engaged in strengthening its regional network. Regional Campuses of Muzaffarabad and Gujranwala will move to their own buildings soon, he said, adding that constructional work for establishing AIOU’s own buildings of regional campuses at Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan would be started during the current month.
Dr Sangi announced that 20 new scholarships in the name of Dr Zaki will be given to the outstanding students of the university. In the first phase, a fund of Rs 30 million had been allocated for this purpose. While enumerating the services of Dr WM Zaki, AIOU Registrar Agha Hafeezullah said he was architect of the first-ever distance-level education institution in Asia. He said Dr Zaki had undertaken the task with missionary zeal and worked day and night to turn the ideal of promoting country-wide distance education in the country into reality. He was most towering personality in the education sector. This was because of his untiring efforts that the university had got a huge land in Islamabad for introducing various faculties, he added. While paying tributes to Dr Zaki, Officers Welfare Association General Secretary Abdul Wadood said his glorious services in the education sector will be long remembered.
He was the man of integrity, who set a shinning example of doing good work for the cause of others, providing education to the deprived section of society. Faculty of Arabic and Islamic Studies Dean Prof Dr Ali Asgher Cheshti also praised his educational work especially for establishing a unique institution like AIOU. He prayed that Allah Almighty may rest his noble soul in eternal peace and grant fortitude to the bereaved family to bear this great loss. The participants offered “Fateha” for the departed soul on the occasion and a condolence resolution was also adopted to place on record his glorious services and send the same to his family members as a mark of respect for him.