Al Haj Moulvi Rayazuddin Ahmed (T.I)

Al Haj Moulvi Reyazuddin Ahmed (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), a direct descendant of Hazrat Sheikh Saleem Uddin Chishty, was born in 1906 in Agra, the city of Taj Mahal and the city of intellectuals and poets. His early upbringing through parents and education instilled in him a love for education, despite being enslaved in government service.

In that era of conventional thoughts and traditional values he envisaged that female education was of paramount importance. His revolutionary thoughts clashed with the norms of his day but his commitment and dedication to women literacy did not subside. He was, in a way, pioneer of Muslims female education in this area.

Moulvi Sahab, with his visionary insight firmly believed that status of the nation cannot be improved without the education of young girls. Therefore, he established Mahmooda Niswan School for girls and a library at Agra before partition.

Quaid-e-Azam was the person who inspired him. Moulvi Sahab believed in the dynamic leadership of Quaid-e-Azam and was very pro-active in the freedom movement under the banner of Muslim League. Seeing his dedication and love for education, Quaid-e-Azam graciously allowed Moulvi Sahab to use his name “Jinnah” for a college, he intended to establish at Agra.

After partition, he settled in Karachi and founded Anjuman-e-Islamia Trust. He continued to work for his revolutionary and innovative ideas. Lack of finances did not deter him to move away from his pursuit of spreading education. He continued his efforts with the meager amount that was donated by the Muslims of Agra but had no other financial support. It is notable that Moulvi Sahab under Anjuman-e-Islamia Trust, established many educational institutions in Karachi both for boys and girls including the following:-

1. Waseem Girls Secondary School
2. Mahmooda Girls School Liaquatabd B-I
3. Anjuman-e-Islamia School B-I
4. Anjuman-e-Islamia Secondary School Liaquatabad No.10
5. Jinnah Science Degree College Nazimabad
6. Jinnah Polytechnic Institute Nazimabad
7. Anjuman-e-Islamia Primary School for girls
8. Riaz Girls College Liaquatabad
9. Ghani Dehlvi Middle School
10. Wazir Jehan Girls Middle School Liaquatabad
11. Wazir Jehan Boys Primary School
12. Anjuman-e- Islamia Girls Secondary School Liaquatabad No.10
13. Anjuman-e-Islamia Primary School for Boys
14. Zubaida Islamia Kutub Khana
15. Mohammadi Begum Technical High School
16. Pir Elahi Bux Library Liaquatabad
17. Zubaida Polytechnic Institute Nazimabad

The First Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan graciously allotted land where Moulvi Sahab established a Girls College and named it Jinnah Girls College as per authority given by Muhammad Ali Jinnah to use his name for the College.

The achievements of Moulvi Sahab and his contribution to education in general, and women in particular is well acknowledged by leading personalities of Karachi. The educational institutions setup by Moulvi Sahab have been the source of education for them and they pride in the fact that they got education from one of the institutions established by Moulvi Sahab.

The need to develope educational institutions was so vital, that Moulvi Sahab tirelessly worked with sincerity to reach this objective. He did not heritate to shed toil, tears and sweat to achieve the goals. Moulvi Sahab was firm believer of religion and was always thankful to Allah and prayed to Almighty to be able to complete his vision of providing educational facilities to both genders but specially for girls as they are focal personality in family and can play a vital role in all issues.

This uphill task was not easy and Moulvi Sahab had to face innumerable difficulties in making his dream come true. He worked tirelessly in building brick by brick the Jinnah Girls College, which was upgraded to Jinnah Post Graduate Girls College in 1985. In 1998, the then Governor of Sindh, gave the charter for up gradation of this Post Graduate Girls College to the status of the University. This up-gradation was the reward of his consistent efforts and profound determination.

The Jinnah University for Women is now a well-known, well-established, and a Higher Education Commission recognized University, with an infrastructure that meets all requirements of Education Institution at National/International level.

"In recognition of the meritorious work in the field of education especially for women folk, the President of Pakistan has conferred upon Tamgha-e-Imtiaz this year"

Under the auspices of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah