Special interest of First Lady: Sufi Center gets Rs143m allocation in budget

According to details, it has been decided to launch four development projects at Government College University Lahore at Rs1.84 billion. In this regard, the Punjab government will provide funds for the setting up of girls hostel, swimming pool and Sufism centre at GCU.

The projects are part of Punjab's annual development program in the budget document.

The federal government will also provide Rs1,158 million for the new campus of GC University, Phase-II. Rs410 million has been allocated in the budget documents for the launch of these projects in the financial year 2021-22 out of which Rs143 million has been allocated for Sheikh Abul Hasan Ash-Shadhili Sufism, Science and Technology Center, Rs100 million for the swimming pool and Rs440 million for the girls' hostel.

GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi said that is the oldest and most prestigious institution of higher learning in Pakistan and GCU has been neglected by previous governments. Students are studying.

He further said that female students from all over Pakistan come to GCU for higher studies but unfortunately there is only one hostel with a capacity of 200 students, now a four-storey hostel with a capacity of more than 300 students has been constructed in Science Block.

Prof. Zaidi said that GCU is the winner of Inter College and Inter-University Swimming Championship, but our students do not have access to the swimming pool facility.

The Vice-Chancellor said that establishing the Sufi Center in GCU is an important initiative of the first lady of Pakistan.

Sufism is a mystical form of Islam, a school of practice that emphasizes the inward search for God. Before her marriage with Khan, the first lady was known as a Sufi scholar, spiritual mentor and faith healer.

On May 29, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement "It has been decided to set up Sufi science and research centers across Punjab on the special interest of First Lady Bushra Imran. In the first phase, Sheikh Abu Al-Hasan Ash-Shadhili Sufism Research Center will be launched in Lahore,".

"The research center will conduct research on Islam, Sufism, religious thought, tolerance, and modern sciences," the statement said, adding that through collaboration with Pakistani and foreign universities, the center in the future will offer undergraduate and graduate programs in Islamic philosophy.

According to the press release, the centre will offer scholarships to poor students as part of the first lady's "pro-poor and pro-education initiatives are underway to provide equal opportunities for development to disadvantaged sections of the society."

Earlier, Prime Minister's wife Bushra Imran inaugurated the Shaikh Abul Hasan Ash Shadhili Research Hub for the promotion of Sufism, science and technology in the country during a solemn ceremony here at the Punjab Sports Board (PSB) E-Library building at Nishter Park Sports Complex.