By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: The first-ever “Iqbal Corner” in a women’s university has been established at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) to promote the thoughts, philosophy of selfhood, intellectual legacy and national vision of Allama Muhammad Iqbal among the new generation, particularly female students.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, renowned business personality Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol, Vice Chancellor Lahore College for Women University Professor Dr Uzma Qureshi, Convener Academia-Industry Linkage Committee of Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Umar Saleem, and prominent personalities from different walks of life.
Other distinguished guests included Dr (Retd) Waheed-ur-Rehman, Mr Umar Raza from the International Iqbal Academy and Ejaz Sandhu. Senior university management, faculty members and students also attended the ceremony in large numbers. The event was hosted by LCWU Public Relations Officer Dr Muneeba Iftikhar.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat termed the establishment of Iqbal Corner an important step for the intellectual and academic development of female students and appreciated the efforts of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Uzma Qureshi and her team.
He said the Punjab government was taking measures to provide students in public-sector universities with better educational environments, modern technology and necessary facilities.
Referring to the educational vision of Chief Minister Punjab and the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, Rana Sikandar Hayat said female students were being provided greater opportunities to excel in modern education and technology.
The minister said the establishment of a modern Robotics Lab at Lahore College for Women University was a special gift from the Punjab Chief Minister and practical work on the project had already started. He said the robotics lab would provide students with new opportunities in modern technology, research and practical skill development.
Regarding improved facilities for students, the education minister assured that two air conditioners would be provided to the university. He said although air conditioning was not a common facility in public-sector educational institutions, the requirement and comfort of female students would be considered while extending this support to LCWU.
Rana Sikandar Hayat also appreciated the initiatives taken by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Uzma Qureshi for improving student facilities, the cafeteria and the overall academic environment of the university.
He expressed special interest in the revival and development of the Department of Architecture and said he would visit Lahore College for Women University again in December to review progress and future plans related to the department.
Renowned business personality Faheem-ur-Rehman Saigol said the launch of the unique Iqbal Corner at a women’s university, starting from Lahore College for Women University, was an important milestone. He credited Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Uzma Qureshi and her team for transforming the concept into reality.
He said supporting the establishment of Iqbal Corner was an honour and added that promoting Allama Iqbal’s thoughts among the younger generation was a national responsibility.
Saigol expressed his commitment to supporting LCWU students, their business ideas and creative projects by helping them reach national and international business platforms.
He also assured continued cooperation to strengthen industry-academia linkages, familiarise students with practical business requirements and connect them with national and global opportunities.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Uzma Qureshi said the establishment of Iqbal Corner was a practical reflection of the university’s vision to provide students with quality education while connecting them with Pakistan’s intellectual, academic and national heritage.
She said the university’s mission was not limited to teaching but also focused on providing a supportive environment where students could utilise their abilities in education, research, modern technology, entrepreneurship and creative fields.
The Vice Chancellor appreciated the support of the Punjab government and the Education Minister and also thanked the Secretary Higher Education for his cooperation in the university’s development, institutional improvement and provision of facilities for students.
LCCI Academia-Industry Linkage Committee Convener Umar Saleem described youth as Pakistan’s greatest asset and said strong connections between industries and universities could provide young people, especially female students, with opportunities in entrepreneurship, modern technology, practical business training and employment.
“Students are our red line. This country belongs to us, and our country will progress with our own youth,” he said.
During the event, a commitment was also expressed to support and promote 1,000 startups to help transform young entrepreneurs’ ideas into practical business ventures, connect them with markets and create sustainable opportunities for the next generation.
Iqbal Corner In-charge Dr Hafsa Batool thanked the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry for its support in establishing the facility and said the initiative would not remain limited to an inauguration event but would be developed as a sustainable, active and permanent academic model.
She said the Iqbal Corner would serve more than 20,000 students associated with Lahore College for Women University and host continuous academic, educational, research and intellectual activities related to Allama Iqbal’s philosophy, poetry and national vision.
The Iqbal Corner has been developed as a “Center of Iqbal” where students will be able to benefit from Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s poetry, philosophy of selfhood, intellectual heritage, national consciousness and message for youth in a structured manner.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, guests visited the Iqbal Corner and termed it an important and unique addition to the academic and intellectual traditions of Lahore College for Women University.
Participants expressed hope that the centre would play an effective role in promoting Allama Iqbal’s message of self-belief, knowledge, action, creativity and nation-building among the new generation.
