The Pakistan International School Jeddah (PISJ) on Thursday commemorated its 50th anniversary by honoring the hard work of the academic and administrative staff of the school. Mrs. Nazia Zaigham Uddin Azam, wife of the Consul General of Pakistan, was the chief guest while the guest of honor was Mrs. Hind Banaja, wife of Dr. Abdullah Omar Nasseef, former Secretary General of the Muslim World League. The program began with the recitation of the Holy Qur'an by Mrs.Qudsia Qureshi. The program was conducted by Dr. Tasneem Zaman, a senior teacher at the school. Mrs. Salma Shah Khan, Vice Principal of the school, summarized the history of the school from its humble beginnings until it became a center of academic activity for the entire Pakistani community. The school has graduated several thousand students who are now taking part in the development of their country, she said. Celebrations of the golden jubilee began on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 when the logo of the 50th year was unveiled, she said. “The efforts of hundreds of teachers and various administrative strategies have paved the way for the school to become an important center of education for the entire Pakistani community,” she added. The Vice Principal also highlighted the history of the school and explained that it was founded by Ch. Ali Akbar, established by a Royal Decree and started on May 7,1959 with only 12 students. She listed the names of the headmasters and principals who served the school over the past 50 years. The awards ceremony began with presentations to distinguished teachers of the school for their excellent academic performance and in appreciation of their hard work. The 21 teachers to whom Special Awards shields were given for their excellent 25-year service to the school were Principal Prof. Ashfaq Mehmood, Vice Principal Mrs. Salma Khan, Mrs. Bushra Asif headmistress (afternoon shift), Mrs. Shahida Zaib, Mrs. Rakshanda Mehmood, Mrs. Munawara Ahmed , Mrs. Iqbal Naseem, Mrs. Razia Rasheed, Mrs. Qaiser Alavi, Mrs. Haseeb Ali, Mrs. Farida Yasmeen, Mrs. Tehniat Khan, Mrs. Naseem Alvi, Mrs. Bazgha Rauf, Mrs. Maroof Akthar, Mrs. Yasmeen Dossani, Mrs. Razia Ashraf, Mrs. Shama Aziz, Mrs. Khalida Rauf and Mrs. Fatima Mehmood. Other awards were given to 49 teachers of the Higher Secondary School Certificate (H.S.S.C.) part 1 and 2 and the Secondary School Certificate (S.S.C.) according to the overall percentage; 27 teachers for their services rendered to the school as post holders; 17 teachers for their services rendered to the school from the morning shift and almost 60 teachers from the afternoon shift for their excellent services to the school. A shield of appreciation was presented to Mrs. Nazia Zaigham Uddin Azam and Mrs. Hind Banaja. Mrs. Azam congratulated the school authorities on the occasion and said that it was a matter of great honor for the Pakistani community living in Saudi Arabia that the PISJ was celebrating its 50th anniversary. “I am extremely happy and honored to be a representative of an institution of Pakistan in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” she said. “This school speaks of Pak and Saudi friendship,” she added. Mrs. Hind Banaja also spoke of her appreciation of the efforts of the school authorities and teachers. A program, arranged for the entertainment of the audience, included: “A Glimpse of the past” slide show, different cultural and patriotic songs sung by teachers and members of Gold, a cultural presentation in the form of a drama skit “Kala Doria” (black thread) by teachers, a tabloid from Allama Iqbal “Asrar-e-Khudi” Mard-e-Mu'min (the hidden strength of self-respect) by school students, “designs of the decades” from the 60s to 2009 by gold members.
