KARACHI:Glowing tributes were paid to the founding Director General of Dr A.Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (KIBGE), University of Karachi Dr Hasan Mujtaba Naqvi at a condolence meeting held at KIBGE here Thursday. Dr Hasan Mujtaba Naqvi had passed away on Tuesday at the age of about 82 years, said a statement.
Vice Chancellor Karachi University Professor Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, in his message, termed the demise of Dr Naqvi an irreparable loss for the academic and research community of Pakistan.
Director General of KIBGE Professor Dr Abid Azhar eulogized Dr Mujtaba Naqvi for his exceptional administrative qualities.
He recalled his meetings with him over the past 40 years.
Professor Abid Azhar called him a person of high moral values and a very dignified person. He mentioned that Dr Naqvi lived for Pakistan and served the motherland to the best abilities.
Chairperson of the Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Management Dr Saboohi Raza praised Dr Naqvi’s services for developing the first transgenic cotton variety (NIAB-78) and his research on saline agriculture across the Muslim world.
She recalled Dr Naqvi’s strong yet courteous behavior during the years she spent at KIBGE, as a Ph.D student when Dr Naqvi was its Director General.
An Associate Professor at KIBGE Dr Sitwat Zehra recalled that she was one of the lucky persons who were selected by Dr Hasan Mujtaba Naqvi and his fellows to work and progress at the Institute.
Senior staff members of KIBGE Faheem Hasan and Saeed-us-Zafar, Fahad spoke about the mannerisms that Dr Naqvi had and the inspiration that he inculcated in the faculty and support staff of KIBGE.
Later, Fateha and Dua were offered for the departed soul.