Promotion of Civic Engagement and Good Citizenship – Ismaili CIVIC Donates Trees To LUMS
On March 4, 2022, the Suleman Dawood School of Business (SDSB) at LUMS partnered with The Ismaili Council for Central Region to organise a tree planting ceremony under the banner of Ismaili CIVIC. Sesame, Gold Mohar, and Jacaranda saplings were donated to the University to promote civic engagement and good citizenship as part of their tree plantation drive, ‘Darakht se Hayat'
Representing LUMS at the occasion were the University’s senior leadership, including Board of Trustee members, Dr. Pervez Hassan and Mr. Osman Khalid Waheed; Interim Provost, Dr. Tariq Jadoon, and Honorary Dean SDSB, Dr. Alnoor Bhimani. They were joined by President Ismaili Council for Central Region, Dr. Nadir Anjum; Chairperson Ismaili CIVIC for Central Region, Naveed Aly Manji, and Ismaili community leaders, Didar Ali Hunzai, Rahim Javed, Asim Shahzad Shaikh, Shezeen Hemani, Ibrahim Machiwala, and Fakhra Nisar, along with boy scouts and girl guides.
Dr. Bhimani welcomed the delegates and said, "Syed Babar Ali mentioned that 35 years ago when they were setting up LUMS, they were very particular about having gardens and a green environment. I understand the importance of greenery around learning. A committee was set up at LUMS, including professors from the Biology department, and they decided that they needed to be very particular about the trees they wanted to plant. Syed Babar Ali envisions every tree from Pakistan to be represented on the campus - and that has been going on for 35 years. We are still not there yet, and some we will plant today. As I read about the Ismaili CIVIC programme, it is about the values of service, care and compassion for others. It is great to see you here."
Dr. Anjum thanked everyone at LUMS for their hospitality and warm welcome. He shared, "I am very pleased to host this event today in collaboration with LUMS. On behalf of the Ismaili CIVIC, I would like to thank LUMS for taking this ride along with us. Ismaili CIVIC is a global programme under which the Shia Ismaili Muslim community has united for its centuries-old tradition of serving humanity by rendering voluntary service to improve the quality of life of the communities they live in, regardless of faith, gender, and background."
This was followed by a presentation about the initiatives of the Ismaili CIVIC and the ceremony ended with planting trees on the SDSB lawns.