The event was presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri, while Ms. Sultana Siddiqui, President and CEO of Hum Network Limited, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. A large number of distinguished scholars, former bureaucrats, faculty members, civil society representatives, students, and members of the media attended the event.

Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui, who served as Vice-Chancellor for an unprecedented 13 years across three tenures, was remembered as a transformative leader who reshaped the institutional, academic, and administrative foundations of the University. Speakers described him as an architect of merit, discipline, and institutional integrity, whose tenure marked a defining era in the University’s history after Allama I.I. Kazi.

During his address, the Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Siddiqui for their presence and reflections. He described him as a role model who set new benchmarks for academic leadership. He announced that the University would soon revitalise its Translation Bureau and undertake the translation of Siddiqui’s book into English and Urdu. He further shared that efforts are underway, in collaboration with his son, to establish an institution in his name to carry forward his legacy.

Highlighting his contributions, speakers noted that he revolutionised faculty recruitment through transparent, merit-based systems, introduced standardised admission processes, and strengthened academic credibility. His visionary leadership led to the expansion of scientific disciplines, establishment of new departments, and major infrastructure development through Higher Education Commission projects. The creation of the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) further ensured alignment with international academic standards.

He was also widely recognised as a champion of gender equality and inclusivity, creating a safe and enabling environment for female students and faculty through progressive policies and dedicated facilities.

In her keynote address, Ms. Sultana Siddiqui paid a heartfelt tribute, recalling him as a caring brother and a strong advocate of women’s rights. She credited his support as instrumental in her success and highlighted his commitment to education through the Fakhether Imdad Foundation, which provided free education to children in rural areas, transforming countless lives.

Commissioner Hyderabad, Mr. Fayaz Abbasi, emphasised the role of education in shaping the nation’s future and stressed the importance of character building and inclusivity in educational institutions, particularly ensuring safe environments for female students.

Dr. Fahmida Hussain described Siddiqui as a humble and principled individual devoted to education, while Ms. Mehtab Akbar Rashdi praised his wisdom, character, and alignment with the vision of Allama I.I. Kazi. Other speakers, including Mr. Mustafa Suhag, Dr. A.Q. Mughal, Dr. Qadeer Rajput, Dr. Siddique Kalhoro, and Dr. Khalil Khunbhati, highlighted his administrative strength, compassion, accessibility, and commitment to student welfare and faculty development. Special tribute was also paid to his wife, Apa Akhtar Jabeen, for her unwavering support.

Mr. Jahangir Siddiqui fondly remembered his brother as a man of exceptional courage and unwavering principles. He stated that Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui never compromised on merit and had the integrity to refuse compliance with any directives he believed were unjust or contrary to fairness. He also shared a personal reflection, describing him as a devoted and caring son who remained closely attached to his mother, who always preferred to stay with him.

Mr. Zuhair Siddiqui shared that they inherited the values of humility, courage, and honesty from their father, who guided them at every step of life. He noted that Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui was deeply concerned about rural development and firmly believed that Pakistan holds immense potential in its rural areas, and that meaningful investment in rural development is essential for national progress.

He further highlighted that his father was a strong advocate of girls’ education and believed that no nation can progress without empowering women. In continuation of his vision, he announced that the family is planning to establish a Human Resource and Skill Development Center at the University of Sindh and is actively working to carry forward his mission. His elder daughter, Ms. Nazia Inam, also shared heartfelt reflections, describing him as a deeply loving and compassionate personality.

The ceremony commenced with a welcome address by Prof. Arfana Mallah, while the formal citation was read by Prof. Dr. Misbah Bibi, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Thatta Campus. The vote of thanks was presented by Mr. Sajid Memon.

As part of the tribute, a documentary produced by University faculty members was screened, and an exhibition of rare photographs from Siddiqui’s tenure was curated by Dr. Saeed Mangi, Director, Institute of Art and Design.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment by the University of Sindh to uphold and carry forward the vision, values, and mission of Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui, ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire generations to come.

The post A Journey of Mission: From Allama I.I. Kazi to the Late Mazhar-ul-Haq Siddiqui – A Tribute to Legends appeared first on Glam Magazine.

Empower Sports Academy hosted a high-impact press conference at recently, formally unveiling its mega project and strategic partnerships aimed at transforming the future of female sports and education in Pakistan. The event was attended by leading media houses, corporate partners, sports professionals, educators, and stakeholders from across the country.

At the conference, Malika Junaid announced a landmark partnership between the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and Empower Sports Academy to launch a nationwide initiative that will identify, train, and empower 10,000 young female athletes every year across Pakistan, expanding further in the years to come.

Representing the Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Sindh, Coordinator Fahad Shafique expressed his delight at the progress made so far by Empower Sports Academy, and played a video message from the Minister and Chairman PMYP, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan. In the message Rana Mashood said, “This initiative reflects our government’s unwavering commitment to uplifting young women through sport. By reaching out to 10,000 girls this year and expanding even further in the years to come, we are broadening access to training, mentorship, and competitive opportunities.”

Malika further added, “Empower Sports Academy has already begun working with girls from all over Pakistan including girls in cities and underserved communities in remote villages of Balochistan, northern areas of Pakistan, Punjab, and Sindh.

The post Empower Sports Academy Unveils Landmark CSR appeared first on Glam Magazine.

By Anusha Zahid

Alisha Junaid is the founder of Empower Sports Academy, which held the first women’s volleyball tournament in Pakistan last year. GLAM interviewed Alisha two years ago at the launch of Empower Sports Academy, and this is a follow-up interview now that their second national volleyball tournament has successfully concluded.

Originally from the United States, Alisha is a TEDx speaker, a recipient of the USAID Youth Leadership Award, and a student at Babson College. She has organized national volleyball tournaments throughout Pakistan and coordinated international tours, all while advancing her personal athletic and academic pursuits.

Congratulations on successfully concluding the second year of Pakistan Volleyball Championship. Do you think this year’s tournament was better compared to last year’s in terms of participation and overall excitement?

Yes definitely. This year, we expanded the preliminary round to eight different cities, a significant increase from last year’s three. We had teams from Abbottabad, Sadiqabad, Islamabad, Karachi, and Quetta, among others. This year, we also made a conscious effort to concentrate on the younger age groups, which was a deliberate decision to prioritise the development of our next generation.

To achieve this, we leveraged social media to promote the event, engaged with our networks to spread the word and encouraging teams to participate and then share their experience with their own networks. This grassroots approach led to a significant increase in participation. But what was truly heartening was seeing girls from various cities come together to a single location and participate in the tournament. The event saw a high level of engagement and exceptional sportsmanship, with teams from the same city coming together to support each other, especially at the final stages of the competition.

Were there any standout performances or emerging talents from this year’s championship?

It’s challenging to recall a specific standout athletic performance, but what really caught my attention this year was the exceptional sportsmanship and honesty displayed by the girls. In Pakistan, this can sometimes be lacking, but in this tournament, I saw a different dynamic at play. The girls were able to connect with each other, even with teams they were competing against; suggesting that collaboration and mutual respect are values that are being instilled in our young athletes, and that’s a promising sign for the future. Also, we were fortunate to have experienced coaches on board, including the national team coach and Eric Ballelos, who had travelled from the US to assist with the event. Their expertise was invaluable, and it was also a great opportunity for the girls to learn from them.

As for emerging talent, we selected a promising volleyball player from the national team last year named Khizra, who was sent to the US to play at a Division 3 college. Not only did she excel in volleyball, but she also successfully completed her undergraduate degree and is now a working psychologist. Our goal is to replicate this experience with more girls.

Who were the sponsors this year? Do you think they played a role in the success of this year’s tournament?

This time, we were fortunate to have some prominent names supporting us, which helped elevate Empower to the next level. Jazz came on board and signed a three-year contract, Interwood, which has been with us for the past two years, renewed their support with a three-year contract. We also secured a three-year partnership with Naya Nazimabad. Two electric motorcycle companies, Hyder and Crown also contributed by sponsoring the Player of the Match awards (one for volleyball and one for badminton) in the form of electric motorcycles to motivate the players. I am incredibly grateful to all our sponsors because running these tournaments is expensive. We cover the expenses for transporting all the players to Karachi, including bus tickets and their accommodation, because we want them to focus entirely on their game without worrying about logistics. Our sponsors and the prize money they provide are essential in making this possible. Last year, we heard a heartwarming story about a girl whose father started a business using one of these motorcycles, which significantly helped their family. That’s exactly the kind of impact we want to see, contributing not just to the girls’ athletic growth but also enabling them to support their families.

What were some of the challenges that you faced during this year’s tournament, and were they similar to or different from those you encountered in previous years?

From the girls’ side, I believe there were fewer challenges this time. We were able to clearly communicate the rules and ensure everyone understood how the tournament was being organised. However, challenges exist, mainly because we imposed certain restrictions on participation. For example, we have age limits, and we do not accept girls over the age of 19 or national team players. With the addition of our coach Eric this year, and discussions with our board, our focus remains on developing young players. We faced some challenges with over-age participants, though fewer than last year when we had an open age category. While we have thought about creating a category for players aged 19 and above, we’ve noticed that training and influencing older players is much more difficult because they tend to be more set in their ways, making it quite challenging to manage.

Have you chosen any young girls to take on coaching roles for the upcoming tournament?

We have selected a few young women to serve as coaches and are currently in discussions with some of them. These women have played on the national team and possess valuable experience and insights into the game and the competitive environment. However, to be eligible, they need to be over 25 years old. Our aim is to help them develop a coaching career and livelihood, while also ensuring that the timing aligns with their career stages – some are still active on the national team and wish to complete that chapter first.

In addition, we have identified several coaches from Pakistan, including both men and women, whom we are training during the summer. We are handling their visa arrangements, and hopefully by July, we expect to have our first group of around four coaches. These individuals will have the chance to learn from Stanford’s world-class coaching staff in the US.

With the increased visibility and support, what are your hopes for the future of women’s volleyball in Pakistan after this year’s tournament? 

Our hope for next year is to bring more athletes into the fold and expand what we’re doing with Empower. This year, we started incorporating sports like badminton alongside volleyball, and we saw a fantastic response. We plan to add more sports and gradually expand into various Olympic disciplines, but since taking on new sports is a logistical challenge, we’ll proceed step by step. Perhaps next year we will bring in squash and table tennis as well. Our objective is to show the girls that their involvement in sports can open doors for their future – their energy on the court, playing and having fun – especially this year after the prize ceremony when they all danced to classic desi songs and having an impromptu dance party – it was incredible to see them let loose and celebrate. We want to create more memories for them.

The post The Journey Continues appeared first on Glam Magazine.

Delving deeper, Dr. Hasan pointed out the challenges posed by transnational crimes, ongoing armed conflicts in various regions, and the looming spectre of nuclear threats. She also underscored the importance of addressing the environmental impact of unchecked fossil fuel consumption and the emerging risks associated with advancing technologies like Artificial Intelligence. Specialists on the subject also spoke of the complexities existing around the globe.

The event focused on the shifting power dynamics in the Asian countries with a focus on China’s diplomatic initiatives. The conference also touched upon the escalating crisis in Gaza and the broader implications for regional stability.

The post A World in Turmoil appeared first on Glam Magazine.