For decades, Haveli district remained one of the most educationally deprived regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Generations of students were compelled to leave their homes and travel to Muzaffarabad, Rawalakot, or even distant cities in Pakistan to pursue higher education. The burden of accommodation, travel expenses, and the emotional challenge of living away from family often weighed heavily on them. In such circumstances, the establishment of a university in Haveli is not just the construction of a new institution; it is a turning point that has the potential to reshape the destiny of generations.
A glance at the district’s educational history reveals years of neglect and misplaced priorities. Even today, several union councils in Haveli lack primary or middle schools. Existing institutions are deprived of basic facilities, reflecting the indifference and inefficiency of past governments and leaders. In this backdrop, where even primary-level education remained inaccessible, the creation of a university seems nothing short of a miracle. Credit for this breakthrough rightly goes to Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed.
The seeds of this dream were sown years ago. Dr. Ahmed recalls a moment from his first tenure as HEC Chairman during Nawaz Sharif’s premiership. While traveling with the Prime Minister to Haveli, Sharif asked him whether any announcement should be made for the people of the area. Dr. Ahmed responded that the most pressing need was a university, as the region lacked even the most basic higher education facilities. That conversation laid the foundation for what would later become a sub-campus of Poonch University in Haveli, offering students access to university-level education for the first time.
The Quran reminds us:
“Allah will raise those who believe among you and those who have been given knowledge, by degrees.”
Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed embodies this principle in practice. Hailing from Poonch, born to parents who migrated in 1947, he received his early education in Kashmir, later pursued higher studies in the United States, and served in various academic and research institutions. With nearly two decades of service at HEC and three separate tenures as its Chairman, he is deeply rooted in both his homeland and the global academic community.
It was Haveli’s fortune that Dr. Ahmed once again assumed the role of Chairman HEC. Without seeking political credit or personal recognition, he quietly and sincerely pursued the cause of Haveli University. Multiple meetings with the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir followed. Although the Prime Minister initially favored establishing a university in his own district, Bhimber, Dr. Ahmed’s firm advocacy ensured that Haveli was also included. As a result, both districts secured their long-awaited institutions of higher learning.
Local leaders, including Minister Faisal Rathore, later advanced the cause through political channels. Rathore eventually had the distinction of getting the Haveli University Act passed by the Legislative Assembly, transforming the dream into legal reality.
This university will not only serve Haveli but will also open doors of higher education for the entire region of Azad Kashmir. Students will now have the opportunity to pursue advanced studies in their own district, fostering a new era of intellectual and social change.
As a poet once said:
“Education is the lamp that transforms darkness into light;
It is the treasure that grants nations dignity and progress.”
The establishment of Haveli University is far more than the foundation of a new institution. It is the beginning of a new chapter for a long-neglected region. The challenge now is to ensure that it does not remain confined to buildings and infrastructure but evolves into a true center of learning, research, and innovation.
