13/05/2019
Islamia College was founded by the personal initiatives of Sir S.A Qayumm along with Sir George Roos-Keppel in 1913 and is considered one of the oldest institutions of education in Pakistan. The roots of this historical place date back to the Aligarh Movement. A large meeting was held in Peshawar where prominent leaders of the region discussed the need of an educational institute in the region which would give rise to new breed of charismatic educational leaders. The idea was greatly agreed by all and all donated generously for the cause. A large plot of land was purchased for the college building from the Khalil Arbabs of Tehkal from the money sent by Nizam of Hyderabad as donation for the college. Other chiefs and nobles of the North-West Frontier and Punjab, also made various donations. Haji Sahib of Turangzai, the most famous Pukhtun religious leader of the time was laid the foundation stone of Islamia College. The historical, cultural and educational significance of this institute is immense not only in this region but in all of Pakista, Quaid-e-Azam in his famous address on April 12,1948 said: "Let me tell you that nothing is nearer to my heart than to have a great center of culture and learning in a place like Peshawar, a place from where the rays of knowledge and culture can spread throughout the Middle East and Central Asia".
