By Muhammad Rehan
Dera Ismail Khan: Talking to the media, Dr. Shakibullah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Dera Ismail Khan, said that the historic address given by the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah to the Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947, not only determines the intellectual direction of Pakistan but is also a practical manifesto of national unity, equality and religious freedom. He said that Quaid-e-Azam had made it clear in his address that every citizen in Pakistan will have equal rights regardless of religion, belief and race, and it will be the job of the state to provide justice and opportunities to all its citizens without discrimination. Dr. Shakibullah said that this message was essential for the survival of Pakistan even then and is equally essential today. The Vice Chancellor said that as a nation, we should not limit Quaid-e-Azam’s vision to speeches only, but should implement it in policy making, educational curriculum and social attitudes. He emphasized that at the Agricultural University Dera Ismail Khan, we are not only providing scientific and practical education to the students but are also equipping them with moral principles like tolerance, forbearance and harmony, so that they can play a positive role in the society. Dr. Shakibullah further said that the August 11 address of Quaid-e-Azam is as much a guide for today’s Pakistan as it was at the time of Pakistan’s formation, and it is our collective responsibility to keep this vision alive. He said that if we embrace this message with sincerity, Pakistan can become a strong, prosperous and peaceful country.
