SUKKUR: Prominent educationist and founding vice chancellor of the Sukkur Institute of Business Administration (IBA) University, Prof Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui, died at a Karachi hospital on Monday after suffering a cardiac problem.

He was 76 and left behind three sons, four daughters and a large number of students to mourn his death.

Prof Siddiqui was founder of Sukkur IBA which he started from only two classrooms at Public School and transformed this small institution into a state-of-the-art campus that now ranked among top institutions of Pakistan.

A former bureaucrat and managing director of SITE Karachi, he was appointed director of Sukkur IBAin 2004 af ter his retirement. Thanks to his untiring efforts, Sukkur IBA became an independent degree-awarding institution in 2006 and a university in 2017 and he became itsfirst vice chancellor.

His dedication to education and commitment to the nation was recognised by the government of Pakistan and he was awarded Sitara-iImtiaz.

People belonging to different walks of life have expressed their grief over the death of Prof Siddiqi while Sukkur Deputy Commissioner Rana Adeel Tasawwur has announced local holiday on June 23 throughout the district to mourn the death of the great educationist.

Shah Abdul Latif University vice chancellor Prof Dr Parveen Shah has expressed her deep sorrow over the sad demise of Prof Siddiqi and said that he was a man of principle who never compromised on merit and excellence.

She said that his meritorious services for education, research and development would always be remembered.

Sukkur Chamber of Commerce and Industries patron in chief Al-Hajj Munawar Khan, president Mohammad Rizwanul Haq Malik and other office-bearers and members prayed forthe departed soul of Prof Siddiqi and said that his services for education would always be remembered.

IBA Karachi mourns death The Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, expressed grief over the death of Prof Siddiqi, says a handout.

It said that Prof Siddiqi was a legendary educationist who took the university to new heights of excellence in past 16 years. His services to academia, the institution and the province of Sindh would always be remembered and IBA Karachi`s prayers were with his family, friends and Sukkur IBA University, it said.

It said that both institutions shared a cherished history. Sukkur IBA University had been affiliated with IBA Karachi since mid-1990s to 2009. `We sincerely hope Sukkur IBA University will carry forward his vision for change and a better tomorrow for the students of Sindh and Pakistan,` it said.