The event was graced by HHRD Country Director Mr. Saleem Mansoori and Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, who jointly inaugurated the plantation campaign.
The ceremony, organized under the university’s Green Campus Initiative, also saw Key HHRD officials present at the event included Mr. Waseem Saleem (Director Programs), Ch. Sajid Ali (Director Operations), Dr. Muhammad Arshad Baloch (Program Manager, Healthcare and Nutrition Program), Mr. Jodat Kamran (Program Manager, Emergency Response & Disaster Management), Ms. Shahida Sarwar (Program Manager, Skills Development & Livelihood Program), and Mr. Raheel Ahmad (Program Manager, Youth Empowerment Program). Mr. Ahmad Habib (Coordinator, YEP) was also present.
Rector IIUI, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, appreciated the generous contribution and long-standing support of HHRD. “For nearly two decades, our students have benefited immensely through scholarships and youth engagement initiatives provided by HHRD. We believe we can achieve much more together for human development,” he stated during the inaugural remarks.
Highlighting the need for collective action on environmental issues, Dr. Mukhtar praised the Department of Environmental Sciences In-Charge Programs, Dr. Sarah Amir and Ms. Syeda Amna Batool, MNA and Focal Person of PMYP, for their continued efforts under the Prime Minister’s Youth Program for Green Movement. Dr. Rukhsan Tariq, Director Students Affairs’ Female Campus, Dr. Rabia Chairperson DES, IIUI, Dr. Nadia Gul, Chairperson of the Sociology Department, also acknowledged HHRD’s consistent role in social development and youth empowerment.
The most important aspect was the active participation of our differently abled students, Kainat and Sabahat from the Department of Sociology, in the plantation drive thereby reflecting the inclusive outlook of the institution as it endeavours to keep them in the mainstream.
Mr. Saleem Mansoori shared a comprehensive overview of HHRD’s operations, emphasizing the organization’s wide-ranging work in Pakistan’s higher education sector. From 2017 to 2025, HHRD has provided over 700 annual higher education scholarships, 100 professional degree scholarships, and more than 10,500 school-level orphan scholarships. It has signed MoUs with 31 universities nationwide, including IIUI, QAU, RIU, BU, CUST, and UAJK, facilitating internships, leadership programs, community welfare initiatives, and climate action projects.
In a briefing held at the Admin Block Council Hall, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rehman (Vice President A&F) highlighted the university’s broader academic endeavors while, Dr. Inam Ul Haq (Director Administration & Works) briefed about ongoing IIUI sustainability projects, while The event concluded with Mr. Saleem Mansoori presenting commemorative shields and gifts to Rector IIUI, Vice President (A&F), and notable contributors from IIUI and Sultan Foundation, including Ms. Hania Sayed.
A heartwarming aspect of the plantation activity was the active participation of two visually impaired students of IIUI, Sabahat and Kainat, who symbolized inclusion and determination. Their involvement in the Olive Plantation Drive reflected the university’s commitment to empowering students of all abilities. The organizers lauded their enthusiasm and dedication, and both students were specially acknowledged by the Country Director of HHRD, who presented them with appreciation gifts. Their presence served as a powerful reminder that environmental responsibility is a collective duty that transcends physical limitations.
HHRD’s contributions to environmental protection, academic development, and community engagement continue to leave a significant mark across Pakistan’s higher education landscape. The olive plantation drive at IIUI not only symbolizes a step toward sustainability but also strengthens the enduring partnership between the university and the esteemed humanitarian organization.