Islamic Education Trust

I would like to shed light on why the Islamic Education Trust was formed and what its objects are:-

In the wake of partition of the Indo-Pak Sub-Continent in August 14, 1947, there was great influx of refugees in Karachi from all parts of India. The Educational Institutions which existed in Karachi at that time were too inadequate for the needs of the growing population of the Karachi City. Accordingly new schools and colleges were started by various persons in different parts of the City.

In 1948 Mr. A. M. Qureshi started Islamia Arts College, Clayton Road, Guru Mandir, Karachi. In course of time the College became very popular in the City and the building proved insufficient for the large number of students seeking admissions in the College and Mr. A. M. Qureshi decided to acquire a suitable plot of land and to construct thereon a building for the College.

Mr. A. M. Qureshi realizing the great problems faced by the people of Pakistan, besides education was food and shelter. Therefore, Mr. A. M. Qureshi formed a Trust by the name of Islamic Education Trust and got it registered on 04-03-1958 under the Trust Act 1882. The objects of the Trust, as per recital of its Instrument are:-

1.
 To grant aid, scholarships, stipends and financial assistance for educational purposes to poor and deserving students.
2.
 To aid and assist Schools, Colleges and Educational Institutions.
3.
 To give medical aid to poor and deserving persons and to contribute in cash or kind to hospitals, maternity homes and dispensaries now established or hereafter to be established for the benefit of poor and deserving persons
4.
 To give aid and financial assistance to Masajids and other places of public worship.
5.
 To give donation and aid for the purposes of providing food, clothing, blankets and other necessities of life to deserving poor or refugees or destitute people.
6.
 To contribute towards establishment of houses; hutments or residential abodes for deserving poor, refugees and destitute people.
7.
 To help, aid and provide financial help of any nature to poor persons in times of natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes and famines.
8.
 To pay or contribute for the support of the blind, descript and diseased persons.
9.
 And generally to extend help, aid or assistance, whether in cash or kind, to poor persons and religious or charitable institutions which in the opinion of the Trustees are considered to be deserving of help or aid from this Trust.

In pursuance of its objects on 17-05-1958 Trust acquired a piece of land admeasuring 22,349 sq. yds. on 99 years lease situated in Plot No. 490, Jamshed Quarters, M. A. Jinnah Road, Karachi, Sindh-Pakistan. The Trust constructed a four storey building having total covered area 128,898 sq. fts., which comprises of 200 rooms.

In the year 1960 after the Islamia College was shifted to its new building and the Trust was running, controlling and managing the following institutions:

  1. Islamia College of Commerce
  2. Islamia College of Arts, at M. A. Jinnah Road, Karachi
  3. Islamia College of Science
  4. Islamia College of Law
  5. Islamia College Evening Arts at M. A. Jinnah Road Karachi
  6. Islamia College Evening at Nazimabad
  7. Islamia College Evening at Clayton Road
  8. Islamia Degree College for Women at Guru Mandir
  9. Islamia Intermediate College for Girls at Nazimabad
  10. Qureshi Night School at Saddar
  11. Marie Colaco High School at Saddar
  12. Qureshi High School at M. A. Jinnah Road
  13. Marie Colaco School Primary and Nursery at Nazimabad
  14. Oriental College at M. A. Jinnah Road
  15. Marie Colaco Secondary School at Nazimabad
  16. Marie Colaco Primary & Nursery School
  17. Qureshi Infant Centre
  18. Islamia College Intermediate, Language & M. A. Classes 

On 25th August 1961, President of Pakistan Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan laid the foundation for the Islamia College. Mr. A. M. Qureshi was greatly praised by Field Marshal Ayub Khan for his selfless services in the field of education.  In his speech on this occasion, Field Marshal Ayub Khan said about Mr. A. M. Qureshi as under:

“[A. M. Qureshi’s] spirit of sacrifice, his honesty of purpose and his patriotism made a very deep impression on my heart.  Then today when I saw that this man has done such a great thing for the children of the nation with his own hard-earned money, I was convinced that he is a patriot in the true sense of the word.  I pray to God that more men like him be born in our country.  And I am sure that, God willing, they will be born.”

Over a span of 25 years from 1948 to 1972, more than 200,000 students (Two Hundred Thousand) were graduated as, M.A.s, M.Scs., B.As., B.Scs., M. Coms., B. Coms, and LLBs.  Now these students are working in the Provincial Governments, and Government of Pakistan Government departments, Private enterprises and also outside of Pakistan, throughout the World.

On 01-09-1972, in pursuant to MLR-118 the Islamia College was declared to be nationalized and the government taken over its possession and management.