Quaid-i-Azam Academy

On the occasion of the 100^th Birth Anniversary of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1976, the Quaid-i-Azam Academy was established by a Resolution of the Government of Pakistan, as an autonomous body. It was set up to undertake and promote the study and understanding of the personality and work of Quaid-i-Azam, his associates, the Pakistan Movement and of the various aspects of Pakistan. As such, research writing and publication in terms of this reference are the prime functions of the Quaid-i-Azam Academy. The Academy is headed by a Chairman and works as a component organization of Ministry of Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Pakistan. The President of Pakistan is the Patron and Prime Minister of Pakistan is the President whereas the Federal Minister of Culture is the Vice President and the Federal Secretary of Culture is the Executive Head of the Academy.

The Academy has a Board of Governors and an Executive Committee empowered to take decisions for its smooth functioning. It has a full time Director Research who is also the Administrative Head of the Academy.

Aims and Objects

The objects of the Academy are to sponsor and to set up all such activities as would promote the study and understanding of the personality and the works of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, his associates, the Pakistan movement, and of the various aspects of Pakistan, such as:

· To undertake, organize and promote research on Quaid-i-Azam, on the historical background of the Pakistan movement, encompassing its cultural, religious, literary, linguistic, social, economic and political aspects and on various aspects of Pakistan;

· To establish an extended research library, to acquire research materials and documents including copies of collections of the Department of National Archives, Islamabad, and other private collections.

· To hold and sponsor lectures, talks, seminars, meetings, study groups and activities organized by other bodies.

In furtherance of the above objectives, the Academy, with the passage of time would institute scholarships and professorships, publish journals and award prizes for contributions by scholars.

Activities, achievements & progress

The Research Fellows of the Academy were assigned three monographs of the Quaid’s associates. Of these, the monograph on Raja Sahib of Mahmudabad (in Urdu) has been completed and was given for printing during the year. The remaining two on Sir Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah and Qazi Mohammad Isa were rewritten and edited during the year.

Urdu translation of the book “Quaid-i-Azam Jinnah – Studies in Interpretation” by Prof. Sharif al Mujahid published by the Academy in 1981 has been completed and is under review.

The Academy has prepared its long term research plans for future till 2008, the salient elements being:

· To undertake, organize and promote research on the historical background of Pakistan Movement, encompassing its cultural, religious, literary, linguistic, social, economic and political aspects and on various aspects of Pakistan;

· To establish an extended research library, to acquire research materials/documents including copies of collections of the Department of National Archives, Islamabad, and other private collections.

· To hold and sponsor lectures, talks, seminars, meetings study groups and activities organized by other bodies.

So far, the following has been accomplished:

· In pursuance of the Academy’s objectives, a specialized Library on the Quaid-i-Azam and Pakistan Movement has been set up.

· During the year, a total of 137 scholars and students have consulted Academy’s library for their ongoing researches on Pakistan and Quaid-i-Azam. The Library has purchased two new books during the year while two other books were received as a gift.

Library holding

In pursuance of the Academy’s objects, a specialized Library on the Quaid-i-Azam Academy and Pakistan Movement has been set up where facilities to scholars and researchers working on these subjects are being provided. Approximately 30,000 specialized books and photographs are available under the one roof. It has also secured a number of important and rare books, pamphlets, microfilms and photocopies of the documents on Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan Movement and allied subjects.

Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project, Islamabad.

The Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project was established in 1991 and its achievements for the year are as under:-

· Volume XI (English) of Jinnah Papers comprising 50 pages, entitled “Consolidating the Muslim League for Final Struggle” has been published recently.

· Work on Volume XII (English) is almost completed and ready for printing while editing of Volume XIII is also in progress.

· Volume VI (Urdu) is under preparation and is expected to be printed shortly.

· A book on Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, “Nabagha-i-Asr” (Persian), sponsored by Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project in collaboration with Iranian Embassy, Islamabad, is in final stage for publication.

· Another book in Italian is almost ready for printing. The Editor-in-Chief is keen to have a book written in Arabic and has contacted some scholars in this connection.

Distribution of Publications

As the publications of Quaid-i-Azam Papers Project are meant to disseminate information and promote research, these publications have been priced and marketed for sale through the Oxford University Press, Pakistan.