Legacy of Leadership

A truly memorable and deeply touching event took place in Karachi on 22 June. Former Minister of State for Education, Shahnaz Wazir Ali, bade farewell as President of SZABIST University after 13 years of distinguished and productive leadership. During these years, SZABIST more than doubled its academic programmes to 44, most of which are accredited. There was a significant increase in faculty strength, research publications, collaborations, and institutional recognition.

SZABIST now has four campuses in Sindh—Karachi, Hyderabad, Larkana, and Gharo—one in Dubai and another in Islamabad. As President, she was responsible for the entire system.

Established as an Institute in 1994, SZABIST was accorded the status of a degree-awarding university in September 2023 by an Act of the Sindh Assembly.

So what was unique about her voluntary retirement after achieving all this? It was not simply the gracious and humble manner in which she bade farewell to SZABIST; it was the unique manner in which SZABIST said farewell to its outgoing President. In keeping with her serene and modest character, there was no grand farewell ceremony, no lavish speeches filled with praise, not even short “we will miss you” ones, and no expensive goodbye gift.

What followed was a spontaneous display of admiration, appreciation, and respect that was deeply touching and unforgettable. It expressed a heartfelt “thank you” without a single word being spoken. As Shahnaz left her office on her last day, she was first greeted by her personal staff, who then escorted her down the stairs. Every hall and room she passed was lined with faculty and staff, and students, standing in applause. When she exited the building, the walk from there to the gate was lined on both sides with the women and men with whom she had worked for multiple years – all saying “Khuda Hafiz” and applauding. Together, they formed a guard of honour that reflected not only respect but genuine affection.

Waiting at the end of the line were Acting President Imtiaz Kazi, Vice Presidents Nasreen Haque and Dr Altaf Mukati, along with senior staff, who presented her with a large bouquet as she entered her car. It was a simple ceremony without embellishment, yet deeply heartfelt and filled with admiration.

The tribute given via a well-presented video at a reception the next day by the Senior Management and Board of SZABIST had this to say about her:

“With a rare combination of candour, compassion and meticulous leadership, she began leading SZABIST University into a new era of excellence, inspiring progress and shaping a legacy of distinction.”

“She guided SZABIST University’s continued growth alongside a distinguished team of Vice Presidents, each a leader in the domains of Academics, Administration and Institutional Development. Together they fostered excellence, innovation and sustainable progress across the university”.

The list of her other achievements for the welfare of the people, especially the underprivileged, is unending. She has spent more than five decades in education and the public and private sectors, earning her the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, the third-highest civil award granted by the Government of Pakistan.

Shahnaz was Minister of State for Education and also served twice as Special Assistant to two Prime Ministers on social sectors. She implemented Pakistan’s largest primary health care initiative, popularly known as the Lady Health Workers Programme. She was Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication when the programme was launched in 1994. She is now a member of the Chief Minister of Sindh’s Task Force on Polio. She actively promoted family planning in her role as SAPM, as a Member of Parliament of Pakistan and in the FP Working Groups.

She also served as a Senior Education Specialist at the World Bank. Shahnaz was the Founding Executive Director of the Pakistan Centre for Philanthropy, established in 2001 to promote and support philanthropy in Pakistan with the specific objective of enhancing social investment for the development of the underprivileged.

Alongside serving as the full-time, hands-on President of SZABIST, Shahnaz has also served on the boards of several prominent institutions. One cannot help but wonder how many hours God has given her in a day. These include the UNESCO Executive Board, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the Sindh Higher Education Commission, the Benazir Income Support Programme, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, the Patients’ Aid Foundation at Jinnah Hospital, the Asia Pacific Philanthropic Consortium, the Women’s Action Forum, and the Education Trust Nasra Schools (ETNS).

Shahnaz now plans to devote her full attention to the Education Trust, set up in 1949 by her mother – Nasra Wazir Ali, also an educationist. The Trust has five purpose-built large campuses in middle-income areas of Karachi. This continues her mother’s legacy of providing quality education to future generations of Pakistanis.

Shahnaz Wazir Ali has not retired from education; she has simply returned to where it all begins—in schools—to continue shaping the future through quality education for the next generation.
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