President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday witnessed the signing ceremony of an Ordinance to upgrade Sindh Medical College (SMC) to the level of Sindh Medical University (SMU) here at Bilawal House.
With this Ordinance, signed by Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan SMC has become the third medical university in Karachi to cater to the increasing educational requirement of the metropolis and Sindh province, in particular, and the country in general.
The upgradation of the SMC would help provide better opportunities to the graduates in acquiring higher qualifications. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed, provincial ministers, Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqui, President Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA) Dr Javed Suleman and senior government officials were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to Sindh Governor on Education Prof Dr Naushad A Shaikh said that health and education have always remained the priorities for the PPP.
He said that Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto established six medical colleges in Sindh. Dr Naushad said that President Zardari has carried forward this mission and the upgradation of SMC today was yet another manifestation of PPP’s commitment to the cause of health and education sector. Spokesperson to the President Senator Farhatullah Babar said that on Thursday, while interacting with the MPAs belonging to Sindh Assembly, the President had directed Sindh Chief Minister to set up a Medical University at the site of the proposed Benazir Hospital in Keamari.
Giving details, the Spokesperson said that the upgraded medical education facility would be opened to all persons of either sex of whatever religion, race, creed, class or colour who are academically qualified for admission to the courses of study offered by the university, and no such person shall be denied the privileges on the ground only of sex, religion, race, creed, class or colour. SMU will provide and disseminate knowledge and technology and make provisions for training graduate, post-graduation, research and service in the field of health and allied sciences. The university shall also adopt latest teaching methodology, techniques and strategies in order to ensure the most effective educational training and research programmes.
This institution will play a pivotal role in production of highly qualified and skilled professionals in the field of medical sciences and the services of such technical force can be utilised in the country for the betterment of the noble cause.
The university will also cater to the educational requirements of the students from Far East and Middle East, besides minimising the expense in the form of foreign currency by providing quality post graduation facilities at local level.
It may be recalled that Sindh Medical College (SMC), Karachi started functioning under the Government of Sindh on April 7, 1973. More than 10,000 graduates have passed-out till this date from SMC. It is also a matter of great honour for the SMC that more than 2,000 of its graduates were serving in North America, UK and Middle-East and contributing to the national economy and bringing laurels to the country.
