Government College University

Government College University, Lahore (formerly Government College, Lahore) is a co-educational public university located on The Mall in Lahore, Pakistan. Although the college was granted the status of university by the Pakistan Government in 2002, the word college is still retained in the name for historical reasons and also because of the wide recognition of the name Government College in Pakistan. The University offers bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in a variety of disciplines. The university currently has more than 6000 students and 323 faculty members and is ranked at No.6 by HEC in General category. Alumni of Government College are called Ravians which is derived from the name of the magazine “Ravi”, published by the administration of the college.

Established 1864
Type Education and Research
Academic staff 352
Students 5864
Location Lahore, Pakistan
Campus Urban
Affiliations HEC

History

Government College, Lahore, 1880s. Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library

Government College University, Lahore as a college, is older than any other college or university in Pakistan except Forman Christian College University, Lahore. Under the British Raj the college was opened on 1 January 1864 in a portion of the Palace of Raja Dhyan Singh Haveli. The institution was affiliated with the University of Calcutta for examination. Along with the establishment of the college, Gottlieb Wilhelm Leitner (professor of Arabic and Islamic Law at King’s College in London) was nominated as principal of college. He later was instrumental in the foundation of Punjab University, Lahore in 1882. The first class consisted of 9 students, all of whom matriculated from Calcutta University. In April 1871, the college moved to its present site. In 1996, it received autonomous status; on 9 September 2002, it became a university. Eric C. Dickinson became its Principal in the Forty’s. He initially taught English at the Aligarh Muslim University and where among his students were both Ahmed Ali (Twilight in Delhi) and Raja Rao (The Serpent and the Rope) in 1925-29.

Emblem

The Torch, as the crest of University emblem, represents the light of knowledge that this unique institution has been giving to generations since its founding. The motto “Courage to Know” represents the guiding principle of the student community. It is intended to develop courage among the students to fulfil their academic potential.

Campus

The main university campus

Built during the colonial era, the architectural style, known to be the Celestial Gothic, best suited the academic building. Government College University (GCU) Lahore is considered to be one of the most majestic buildings in the sub-continent. Reflecting the neo gothic tradition, the building imparts the grandeur and mannerism that adapts the climatic and environmental requirements in the form of its wide verandahs and high ceilings. Further scale and grandeur is added to the building by placing it on the highest level of its contoured site. Sprawling lawns combined with an intricate landscape are the integral parts of GCU’s overall perception. Not only did the architect design a majestic building but also complemented this grandeur with the openness of its grand lawn, the “Oval Ground” of the University Campus.

• The Main Hall – The most prominent part of the building is the Main Hall (now called Dr. Abdus Salam Hall). It consists of a central nave and aisles running along the 4 sides. The nave has double height. The 4 aisles are double storied and they form a gallery on the upper floor. The main conical-type clock tower at the facade is square at the base. The first two stories are square and a squinch arch is placed to convert the square plan into octagon. The first two stories are followed by two stories of octagonal plan with arched openings and triangular projections.
• Postgraduate block – Next to Bokhari Auditorium (named after Patras Bokhari) is the postgraduate block. This block was constructed to meet the needs of the increasing number of students. The foundation stone was laid in 1993 and the building was completed in June 1999. This building has 4 floors and includes a basement that houses the postgraduate library.
• Chemistry block – The chemistry block and the science block are among the later additions. Both these buildings are situated to the East of the main building. The chemistry block is an extension of GCU’s main building with exterior Gothic features. The building rises up to 2 floors only. Buttresses and four centred pointed arches are used to increase the height of the building.
• Science Block – The science block is a much earlier addition than the chemistry block and was constructed mainly for utility purpose. Apart from the brick facing the only element taken from the main building is the use of Gothic arches in the verandahs.

Academic departments

The Academic departments of the GCU offer a wide choice of subjects with flexible study patterns that meet the needs and interests of the students at intermediate, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The university consists of the following faculties, centres and teaching departments:

• Centers Chairs
• Institutes Postgraduate Departments Schools Undergraduate Departments
• Center for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP)
• High Tension Laboratory (now CASP) – established in 1954 by Dr. Rafi Muhammad Chaudhry to carry out experimental research in Atomic and Nuclear Physics.

Faculty of Engineering

• B.Sc Engineering in Electronics & Telecommunications four year degree programme and also offers M.Sc. Telecommunications two year degree programme.
• National Center of Mathematics – The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has established the National Centre for Mathematics (NCM) at the GC University, Lahore for the advancement of Mathematical Sciences in Pakistan and to develop indigenous human resources and research capability in the field of Mathematics.
• Human Resource Development Center (H.R.D.C) – The center has arranged in service teachers training programmes for the GCU faculty on different academic and administrative topics.

Abdus Salam Chair in Physics

The Government College University has a very provocative and ambitious Physics institute, which is known as Salam Chair in Physics (ASCP). The Physics institute was named after noted Theoretical physicist and only Pakistani Nobel laureate Dr. Abdus Salam who had also studied and taught at the GCU during the 1940s. The Physics Institute became operational in March 2000 with the extraordinary efforts of Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, a life long friend of Professor Abdus Salam. In 2009, the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) donated dr. Abdus Salam’s, original Nobel certificate to Salam Chair in Physics. Former director of ICTP dr. Katepalli R. Sreenivasan visited Pakistan where he had gifted the original Nobel certificate to GCU alma mater. The certificate reads “For their contributions to the theory of the unified weak and electromagnetic interaction between elementary particles, including, inter-alia, the prediction of the weak neutral current“.

It has initiated a number of academic programmes aimed at promoting activity in Physics. Some of its important achievements include: getting 52 research publications in international journals; producing 30 Ph.D. and 90 M.Phil thesis; setting up Plasma Technology Lab and contracting handsome research grants from various funding agencies and research centre for example the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (Italy), Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), Kahuta Research Laboratories (KRL), Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). Katepalli R. Sreenivasan is

Abdus Salam School for Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS)

The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (SMS) is one of the largest mathematical research institute in the country. The school was established in 2003 by the Government of the Punjab under the aegis of GCU. It aimed at providing liberal education to the youth of the Subcontinent irrespective of caste, color or creed. The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) is one of the fastest growing doctoral mathematics schools in the world. Website: [www.sms.edu.pk]

The principal aim of the School is to train professional scientists to pursue the study of scientific and technological problems by mathematical methods, and to undertake research in various branches of mathematical sciences. The Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) offers Pakistan’s largest and strongest Ph.D. Programme in Mathematics.Before the existence of ASSMS, Pakistani Mathematicians used to go abroad for Post-doctoral fellowship. Now here at ASSMS things are happening other way round. Number of young M.Phil/Ph.D holders from prestigious institutions of the world are choosing ASSMS to do their post-doctoral fellowship. This success of post-doctoral fellowship program speaks of high quality faculty at ASSMS.

ASSMS is taking some effective and practical steps to promote and popularise mathematics in schools of Pakistan. In this direction, the worthy director of ASSMS “Dr. Alla Ditta Raza Choudary” has taken two concrete steps that are providing a much needed encouragement and incentive to Pakistani students in schools and colleges. They are:

• The faculty at Abdus Salam School of Mathematical Sciences (ASSMS) regularly host training Camps for students from schools and colleges. The participants of the camps are prepared and selected for national Team of Pakistan to compete at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO). In 2005, National Team of Pakistan took part for the first time in IMO and in 2007 Pakistan won the first medal at IMO and second in 2009.

• ASSMS has organised several mathematics contests at the national level. These contests have sparked a good enthusiasm among the schools and colleges of Pakistan.

Institute of Industrial Bio-Technology

Institute of Industrial Biotechnology GC University, Lahore was established in April 2005. Now the Vice Chancellor has consented to launch B.Sc., M.Sc, & M. Phil classes in Biotechnology and constitute a separate Board of Studies for the institute.

Postgraduate departments

Notable alumni

Politicians

• Muhammad Zafarullah Khan – First Foreign Minister of Pakistan, President of United Nations General Assembly, President of International Court of Justice
• Hanif Ramay – An internationally renowned intellectual, journalist and former Governor and Chief Minister of Punjab
• Yousaf Raza Gillani, Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Nawaz Sharif, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Moeen Qureshi – Former Interim Prime Minister of Pakistan
• Abdul Rehman Hafeez – Chairman, Human Rights Organization of Pakistan
• Inder Kumar Gujral – former Prime Minister of India
• Waseem Sajjad – Former Chairman, Senate of Pakistan. Also interim President of Pakistan
• Harcharan Singh Barar – Former Chief Minister Of Punjab(India) & Former Governor of Haryana & Orissa.
• Mahbub ul Haq – Former Finance Minister of Pakistan, Chief Economist Planning Commission, Director of World Bank Policy Planning Department.
• Dr. Ghulam Hussain – Former Federal Minister for Railways and Ex-Secretary-General of Pakistan People’s Party.
• S.M. Zafar – Senator, Former Law Minister and leading constitutional lawyer.
• Kamaluddin Azfar – Former Governor of Sindh
• Aseff Ahmad Ali – Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and current Deputy Chairman Planning Commission
• Aitzaz Ahsan – Barrister,Former Federal Minister of Interior,Law & Justice, former President of Supreme Court Bar Association.
• Mian Shabaz Sharif – Chief Minister, Punjab (Pakistan)
• Chowdry Anwer Aziz – Former Federal Minister of Agriculture & Food.
• Salman Taseer – Governor, Punjab

Government officials

• Mirza Muzaffar Ahmad – Former Secretary Commercer and Finance, Deputy Director Planning Commission of Pakistan, also Finance Minister Pakistan.
• S.K. Mahmud – Former Secretary to the Government Of Pakistan & Chief Secretary Punjab
• Aziz Ahmed – Former Secretary General Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Shoaib Sultan Khan – Former Secretary to the Government Of Pakistan.
• Sikander Hayat Jamali – Former Federal Secretary of Education, Environment,Parliamentary Affairs & Former Chief Secretary Balochistan
• Shamshad Ahmed – Former Secretary Of Foreign Affairs
• Naveed Ahsan – Former Secretary General Ministry of Finance
• Zafar Mahmood – Former Cabinet Secretary to the Government of Pakistan
• Javed Mahmood – Former Chief Secretary Punjab
• Musa Javed Chohan – Former ambassador to France, Malaysia
• Hafeez-Ur-Rahman – Chief Financial Advisor to Ministry of Interior
• Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry – writer, analyst, diplomat, served as Ambassador to Myanmar and Serbia.
• Malik Zahoor Ahmad – diplomat, Middle East/South Asia expert, political analyst.
• Ahmed Waqar – Ex-Chairman FBR, Former Federal Secretary of Petroleum & Privatization Commission.
• Kanwar Muhammed Dilshad – Former Secretary Election Commission Of Pakistan
• Kamran Lashari – Former Federal Secretary of Petroleum & Natural Resources,Ex-Chairman CDA & LDA.
• Sadatullah Khan – Ex-Inspector General Of Punjab Police.

Army officers

• Lieutenant General Muhammad Ashraf Saleem, Commander Army Air Defence Command.
• General Shamim Alam Khan, NI(M), SJ, SBt
• Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Talha Saeed (captain GC tennis team 1979)

Nuclear scientists

• Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, experimental nuclear physicist and missile engineer.
• Munir Ahmad Khan, Chairman of PAEC from 1972 to 1991.IAEA Staff Member, 1958–72;Chairman IAEA Board of Governors 1986-87.
• Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad, a well-known nuclear physicist and chairman of PAEC from 1991 to 2001
• Dr. Ansar Pervaiz, current chairman of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission PAEC since 2001

Nobel Laureate

• Dr. Abdus Salam -theoretical physicist and astrophysicist and Pakistan’s only Nobel Laureate.
• Dr. Har Gobind Khorana – Nobel Laureate in Physiology and Medicine
• Zia Rizvi: Former Assistant Secretary General United Nations; Shared Noble Peace Prize UNHCR 1981

Actors

• Dev Anand – Indian
• Balraj Sahni – Indian

Poets

• Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal – Pakistan’s national poet
• Faiz Ahmed Faiz
• Nasir Kazmi

Authors/writers/novelists

• Patras Bokhari – Urdu writer, First Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations (1951–54)and Former Under-Secretary General of United Nations,
• Sahir Ludhiyanvi – Urdu poet/Hindi lyricist and songwriter
• Qudrat Ullah Shahab – famous Urdu writer and civil servant
• Wasif Ali Wasif – Eminent Sufi author and poet
• Ashfaq Ahmed – Urdu writer playwright, broadcaster and intellectual
• Bano Qudsia – female novelist
• Farkhanda Lodhi – female novelist

Journalism

• Altaf Gauhar – writer, scholar, political journalist, 1923–2000
• Imran Aslam – CEO Geo TV networks.
• Ahmed Rashid -
• Hamid Mir – journalist, political analyst and TV] anchor.
• Khaled Ahmed, Consultive Editor of The Friday Times and contributor to Daily Times
• Wakas Mir, radio host
• Atif Khalid Butt – Journalist
• Tariq Ali – Journalist, Author, Political Activist

Judiciary

• Diwan Sir Abdul Hamid – barrister and public administrator
• Ijaz Batalvi – lawyer, 1923 -2004
• Muhammed Munir – Former Chief Justice Supreme Court Of Pakistan & Federal Court, Member Boundary Commission on partition of India 1947.
• M.R.Kayani – Former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court
• Nasim Hasan Shah- Former Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan
• Makhdoom Ali Khan- Barrister, Former Attorney General of Pakistan
• Javid Iqbal – scholar, former Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court & Judge of Supreme Court and son of Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal
• Nasir Aslam Zahid – Former Chief Justice Of Sind High Court
• Khawaja Mohammed Sharif – Former Chief Justice Of Lahore High Court
• Mian Muhammad Najum Uz Zaman – Former Chief Justice of Lahore High Court
• Riaz Kiyani – Former Federal Secretary of Law,Justice & Parliamentary Affairs & Former Judge of Lahore High Court.
• S.Ahmed Sarwana – Former Judge of Sind High Court & ex-Chairman of Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Association(1979–99).
• Mohammed Asif Jan – Former Judge of Lahore High Court
• Choudhry Mohammed Ghulam Sarwar – Former Judge Of Lahore High Court
• Ch. Shaukat Ali Khan – Session Judge, Currently the Chairman Drug Court, Multan

Sportsmen

• Majid Khan (cricketer) – Retired cricketer, specialist batsman and former captain of the Pakistan team & Cambridge Blue.
• Waseem Ahmed – Ex Olympian and former captain of Pakistan National Hockey Team with most caps in the history of Pakistan Hockey
• Abdul Qadir (cricketer) – ex Chief selector Pakistan Cricket Board
• Amir Sohail – former Pakistan Test captain
• Ramiz Raja – former Pakistan Test captain
• Mujahid Moeen – former Football Player
• Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi – Professional tennis player

Musicians

• Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan – popular male singer
• Hadiqa Kiyani – popular female singer
• Mustafa Zahid, famous pop singer and vocalist of the band Roxen
• Jawad Ahmed – Popular Male Singer
• Waris Baig – Popular Male Singer

Scholars

• Allama Iqbal – Poet, Philosopher, politician, lawyer and architecht of the idea of Pakistan.
• Dr. Israr Ahmad – Founder of Anjuman Khuddam-ul-Qur’an, Tanzeem-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Khilafat. Famous for his Theory of Non-Violent Revolution.

Other notable alumni

• Dr. A. Z. M. Iftikhar-ul-Awwal, Economic Historian, Selection Grade Professor and Former Chairman, Department of History, University of Dhaka; Former Director General, Bangladesh National Museum.^[3][4]
• Chetan Anand (producer and director) – producer and director from India and elder brother of Dev and Vijay Anand
• Wajid Ali Khan – Member of Parliament of Canada and advisor to Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper.
• Dr. Safdar Mahmood – retired federal secretary, eminent historian, political analyst, scholar and author of several books on Pakistan history.
• Dr Khalid Ranjha- lawyer, constitutionalist and serving Senator for Pakistan, former provincial and [[federal

minister]] for Law, Human Rights and Parliamentary affairs

• Dr.Muhammed Arsalan Majeed -MS of Zhengzhou Medical Complex China
• Maulana Tariq Jamil – famous Muslim scholar
• Khushwant Singh – prominent Indian novelist and journalist
• Sarvadaman Chowla – a prominent Indian-American mathematician
• Syed Imtiaz Ali Taj – College principal and drama writer who wrote a famous stage version of Anarkali
• Prakash Tandon – an influential Indian businessman
• Rao Mohammad Hashim Khan, Member of National Assembly, Chairman Public Accounts Committee
• Chorri dildar ahmad, former stage dancer
• Prof.Dr.Munir-ul-Haq Former MS of Mayo hospital and founder of ophthalmology department.

Others associated with the college

• Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum – noted 20th century poet of Urdu, Punjabi and Persian
• Prof Dr Suhail Ahmad Khan – critic, eminent teacher and poet
• Prof Dr Yaqoob Chaudhary – Notable Professor of Department Of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering.
• Prof Dr Saadat Saeed – Famous Poet and Writer
• Mian Ata Muhammad Khan Maneka former MNA and Minister for Education Punjab, Chairman District Council Pakpattan, MPA
• Hafiz Faiz Ul Hassan
• Mirza Azeem Ullah