Houstonian Corner (V11-I30)

The Hub Boarding School Project of Excellence for the Nation Introduced to the Community

About Seventy Social and Entrepreneurial Personalities of the Community, including Dr. Ashraf Abbasi, Chairman Pakistan American Council (PAC) Advisory Council, attended the Luncheon at Bijan Restaurant, hosted by Iqbal Sheikh of CyberTex Austin.

This program was in the honor of Abdul Kader Jaffer, Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK & President of Ahmed E. H. Jaffer Foundation in Pakistan. He recently visited Texas and other parts of USA, to unveil to the community his visionary “The Hub Boarding School of Excellence for the Nation” in Karachi.

Earlier Abdul Kader Jaffer met with Ms. Esperanza Hope Andrade, Secretary of State of Texas, in Austin, where he received from her a memorabilia certificate on behalf of Governor of Texas Rick Perry.

At the Bijan Luncheon, Abdul Kader Jaffer was welcomed by City of Houston Councilperson M. J. Khan, who presented him Certificate of Honorary Citizenship of Houston on behalf of the Mayor of Houston. Mr. Jaffer in his reply thanked Mr. Iqbal for his hospitality and all the distinguished guests who attended the lunch at short notice.

“After my return to Pakistan on completion of tenure as Pakistan High Commissioner in London 2000-2003, I decided to take upon the challenge of setting up for the first time a Boarding School of Excellence for Boys in the First Phase, followed by a Boarding School for Girls and finally culminating into a National University of Excellence on the 240 acres of valuable land in Hub, which my family has donated for this cause,” said Abdul Kader Jaffer.

This project will cost about Rs. 1.5 billion and he has already collected from his generous friends in Karachi Rs. 200 million, which has been put to use in the construction of various blocks. He has also signed an agreement for Rs. 300 million with a generous Pakistani Donor in Dubai, who had already sent his check for the first tranche of Rs. 100 million. The Government of Pakistan has requested USAID to allocate $10 million to the Hub-School, but USAID had not yet responded favorably. Mr. Jaffer mentioned that he will be visiting Washington DC and trying to get an appointment with the Office of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke.

Mr. Jaffer emphasized that the Hub School would become a land mark of a strong bilateral relation between the two countries as Quality Education and creation of leadership in all fields was the only viable alternative to extremism and fundamentalism and make Pakistan stand high as a strong tolerant democratic country in the region. The promised annual grant to Pakistan for non-defense use for Education and Health by the US Government of US $1.5 billion must be judiciously used for projects being set up by the private sector on Non-Profit in the field of Education and Health.

Mr. Jaffer also advised the gathering that he had already appointed a Canadian Principal who was actively engaged in making all preparation for the start up of the first phase for 270 boys by August 14th, 2010.This would be increased to 800 boys.

Dr. Zia Ahmed Commercial Attaché of Pakistan in Houston, Dr. Ashraf Abbasi, M. J. Khan and President of Pakistani-American Association of Greater Houston (PAGH) Khalid Khan, in their remarks thanked Iqbal Sheikh for his hospitality and particularly for inviting Mr. Jaffer to introduce this important project to the Pakistan American Community.

Iqbal Sheikh was joined by all the attendees and distinguished leaders of the community in making solemn pledge that they way they worked together to raise $500,000 for University of Texas Pakistani Chair, they will all work hard to support the Hub School Project, as it deserves full support of both the U.S. Government as well as the Pakistan American Community.

Abdul Kader Jaffer is presently President of AJCL, which was formally known as Ahmed Jaffer & Company (Private) Limited, established in Karachi, in 1948 by his visionary father Ahmed. E. H. Jaffer (August 09th, 1909 – February 02nd, 1990). He was a close associate of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

AJCL is one of the leading business houses of Pakistan, engaged in sales of commodities, telecommunication equipment, power generation and distribution equipment, oil & gas equipment & services, railway equipment and rolling stock, defense and aviation products to both the public and private sectors.

AJCL not only prides in being involved in excellent business activities, but also provides several Community Services including large donations to charitable organizations. AJCL Foundation has now approved conceptual designs and is raising funds for “The Hub School”; a boarding school of excellence for the Nation.

For more information, one can visit http://www.ajcl.net/

11-30