Cholistan Development Council (CDC) presented the International Cholistan Award 2023 to Prof Dr Athar Mahboob, Vice Chancellor of the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB).
A special ceremony for this award was held at Ghulam Muhammad Ghotvi Hall Abbasia Campus. On this occasion, the book launch ceremony of the host Farooq Ahmed Khan’s book ‘Rafaqato ka Safar’ was also held. Vice Chancellor IUB Prof Dr Athar Mahboob presided and eminent surgeon and motivational speaker Prof Dr Javed Iqbal, renowned physician Prof Dr Munir Azhar, Sajjad Bri station director of Radio Pakistan Bahawalpur and former head of Urdu Department Dr Muzamal Bhatti spoke. Razia Malik performed the duties of organizing the event.
Former Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Rao Muhammad Afzal Khan, Former Member Provincial Assembly Fouzia Ayub Qureshi, Renowned Drama Nigar Ali Moin, Deans Prof Dr Sheikh Shafiqur Rehman, Prof Dr Arshad Hussain, Prof Dr Jawad Iqbal, Prof Dr Shazia Anjum, Prof Dr Saeed Ahmed Buzdar, Chief Librarian Shahzad Karim, Principal College of Nursing Farhan Mukhtar, Directors Prof Dr Asif Naved Ranjha, Dr Maqshuf Ahmed, Dr Samar Fahad, Shahzad Ahmed Khalid, Dr Azhar Hussain, Senior Staff Officer Wasim Ahmed Siddiqui, Senior Producer Athar Lashari, civil society representatives and citizens participated in large numbers.
On this occasion, the speakers paid tribute to Vice Chancellor IUB Prof Dr Athar Mahboob for his educational services. He said that Khawaja Farid University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT) was founded by the founder Vice Chancellor Rahim Yar Khan as a state of the art university which is benefiting the students of Sindh and Balochistan as well as South Punjab. The Islamia University of Bahawalpur which was a university with only 13000 students in 2019 has now become a university with 70000 students. The number of faculty members has increased from 450 to 14000 out of which 800 are Ph.D. The number of faculties has increased from 7 to 16 and the number of departments has increased from 48 to 142.
During the ceremony, the social services of Farooq Ahmed Khan and his wife Razia Malik were appreciated in a grand manner. Vice-Chancellor Engr Prof Dr Athar Mahboob said that Farooq Khan did not get much opportunity to participate in social work, but the university can take this trend forward. In particular, social welfare works can be carried forward in collaboration with the social work department. Other speakers said that Farooq Khan’s services spanned decades. He along with his wife Razia Malik tirelessly worked and fought long for women, minorities and downtrodden sections of the society. Cholistan Awards are his outstanding achievement.
Farooq Ahmed Khan, the host of the event, said that the social service sector is very attractive and fascinating to the viewers. However, together with his family and friends, he performed a lot of social services. The Cholistan Award has become a symbol of peace and dignity not only in Pakistan but also abroad. The Cholistan Award is intended to encourage individuals from various walks of life who have performed outstandingly to the best of their abilities. The role of Cholistan Awards has always been prominent in strengthening relations with Pakistan and other friendly countries. Cholistan Awards The aim of Cholistan Awards is to recognize the efforts of inter-faith and communal harmony, mutual respect and tolerance, protection and promotion of cultural heritage, revival of various genres of arts and the services of local and international personalities for the establishment of a peaceful society. This is the reason why Prof Dr Athar Mehboob Vice Chancellor Islamia University Bahawalpur’s exemplary services and achievements are being appreciated through Cholistan Awards and the people of Bahawalpur are gathering in one place to pay tribute to him.