Professor Dr Raiz Ahmed Hashmi: An Educator Par Excellence

By Dr Ahmed S. Khan
Chicago, IL

Prominent educator and physicist, Professor Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi Sahib passed away in Karachi on April 28, 2024. Professor Hashmi’s demise is a great loss for the academia in Pakistan. He belonged to a rare and dedicated group of academicians who completed their studies in Physics at the University of Karachi during 1950s-1970s and went to Europe, Canada, and the United States to pursue higher education, and after completing advanced degrees, they returned to Pakistan and served in academia and industry all over Pakistan.
Riaz Ahmed Hashmi was born on February 4, 1938, in British India. After the creation of Pakistan, his family migrated to Pakistan. In 1957 he received his MSc (Physics) from the University of Karachi (UoK). In 1958, he joined the Department of Physics (UoK) as a lecturer. In 1959, he went to Germany to pursue higher education in Physics. In 1965, he obtained his PhD degree in Nuclear Physics from Freie Universität Berlin, one of Europe's leading research universities. His areas of research were nuclear physics and condensed matter physics. In 1965 he also got married. During 1965-1967, he worked at the Kernforschungs Institut Karlsruhe (KfK) presently known as Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In 1967, he returned to Karachi, and in 1968, joined the Department of Physics (UoK) as Assistant Professor. In 1998, he retired as Professor. In 1979, he established the Thin Film Laboratory at the Department of Physics, which later became a part of the Condensed Matter Laboratory.
Dr Hashmi supervised a number of graduate projects and dissertations and wrote a plethora of research papers. In 1977, he served in Benghazi, Libya, on an academic sabbatical. In 1999, Dr Hashmi Sahib joined the Jinnah University for Women (JUW), Nazimabad, Karachi.
Jinnah University for Women (JUW), Karachi, is the first seat of higher learning established for the uplift of women in Pakistan. The project was the brainchild of Moulvi Rayazuddin Ahmed, the founder of Anjuman-e-Islamia Trust. Moulvi Sahib, a direct descendant of Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Saleem Chisty, was born in 1906 in Agra, the city of the magnificent Taj Mahal, and the abode of intellectuals and poets. He attended Aligarh University. Moulvi Sahib was a proponent of female education; he firmly believed that the status of people in a society could not be changed until young girls were educated. His visionary ideas promoted female education. He established Mahmooda Niswan School for Girls and a library in Agra. Moulvi Sahib also took an active part in the freedom movement led by the Quaid-i-Azam. During a visit to Agra, Quaid-i-Azam graciously allowed Moulvi Sahib to use his name for a college which Moulvi Sahib was planning to establish in Agra.
After migrating to Pakistan Moulvi Sahib played a pivotal role in establishing educational institutions in Karachi. With the Rs 20,000 he had collected in Agra, Moulvi Sahib established the first girls’ school in Pakistan Chowk, Karachi. Then he went on to play a pivotal role in establishing seventeen other educational institutions which included Jinnah Polytechnic, Jinnah College and Rayaz Girls High School. Liaquat Ali Khan, the first prime minister of Pakistan, allotted land for the Jinnah College. Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah took a personal interest in the project and donated money for the construction of a Science Block. During the 1970s most institutions established under the leadership of Moulvi Sahib were nationalized. Moulvi Sahib had to reinvent the wheel again. He fought legal battles to get his institutions back. After the Jinnah Polytechnic was returned to him, Moulvi Sahib established the Jinnah Postgraduate College for Girls which later became Jinnah University for Women.
In 1999, Dr Hashmi joined Jinnah University for Women (JUW) as its founding Vice Chancellor. When Dr Hashmi started his tenure at JUW, the university was in its infancy and in the process of transformation from an undergraduate college to a postgraduate institution. Dr Hashmi developed the university structure and established a number of key departments which included Pharmacy, Computer Science, Teacher Education, Visual Studies, English, Mass Communication, and Business Administration.
Recognizing the importance of graduate studies, he introduced MS and PhD programs in multiple fields, paving the way for the university to train highly skilled professionals and researchers. These programs became a cornerstone for academic excellence and contributed to the development of intellectual capital at the national level.
During Dr Hashmi’s tenure (1999-2010), JUW grew exponentially: enrollment increased from a modest 100 students to more than 4,000, and the number of academic departments increased to cater to the needs of a wide range of disciplines. His untiring efforts and dedication ensured that every aspect of the university, from curriculum design to infrastructure development, met the highest standards. His vision and relentless efforts not only established JUW as a beacon of higher education for women but also laid a solid foundation for its future growth. His leadership — marked by integrity, hard work, and inspiration — continues to be a source of pride for JUW and a legacy for future generations.
Professor Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi Sahib’s sincerity, humility, politeness, dedication, and hard work were the defining traits of his energetic personality. He was a kind person who treated everyone with respect and dignity. His dedication to higher education and his ability to inspire his team created an environment of motivation and excellence.
Reflecting on the service of Dr Hashmi Sahib to JUW , Mr Wajeehuddin Ahmad, Chancellor, JUW, observes: “I came to know Prof Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi when he joined Jinnah University for Women as the first Vice-Chancellor. At that time, the university was in its infancy, and Dr Hashmi played a pivotal role in laying its foundation. He established all statutory bodies, formulated university policies, developed the system of examinations, created university code books, and initiated several teaching departments that formed the backbone of the institution. Dr Hashmi planned and established numerous departments, ensuring the best resources were employed to maintain high academic standards. Within a short period, the university's structure took shape under his visionary leadership, and it was his hard work that planted the seeds of progress that we see flourishing today. Although I spent only a brief time with him, as I was abroad during much of his tenure, I have witnessed the profound impact of his incredible efforts and leadership. The remarkable progress and prestige of Jinnah University for Women are a testament to Dr Hashmi’s dedication and vision. His contributions cannot be fully described in words, and we remain deeply indebted to him for his extraordinary efforts in shaping the university”.
Remembering Dr Hashmi sahib, Prof Dr Naeem Farooqui, VC, JUW, notes: “I have known Prof Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi since the 1980s, long before joining Jinnah University for Women as Pro-Vice Chancellor in the year 2010. Dr Hashmi was my examiner during both my Master's and PhD examinations, and I feel honored to have been evaluated and endorsed by such a distinguished professor who is highly regarded in his field. He possessed profound knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and dedication to education. During my brief period working with him at Jinnah University for Women, I observed his exceptional leadership, integrity, and commitment to academic excellence. His ability to mentor and guide with patience and compassion left a lasting impression. Dr Hashmi’s legacy as a scholar and a wonderful human being will continue to influence and inspire many in the academic community for years to come.”
Reminiscing about Dr Hashmi Sahib’s leadership style and his ability to nurture staff, Prof Dr Narmeen Bawany, Dean, Faculty of Science, JUW, states: “Prof Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi was not only a visionary academic leader but also a mentor, guide, and an inspiring figure in my professional journey. As the founding Vice Chancellor of Jinnah University for Women he appointed me as the Director of the Computer Science Department, the department that I established along with him, under his kind guidance at every step. Dr Hashmi's leadership style, characterized by integrity, humility, and compassion, inspired those around him to strive for excellence and make a difference in the lives of others. I personally learned a lot from him and his inspiration, appreciation, and guidance remain with me. Dr Hashmi made me realize my own potential; his trust in my capabilities and the autonomy he gave me instilled a deep sense of responsibility and confidence. I still remember him as a fatherly figure and feel truly blessed to have worked under his guidance. Though he is no longer with us, he continues to inspire me, his thousands of students, colleagues, and everyone who had the privilege of working with him. I have no words to express my gratitude to Hashmi Sahib. May Allah open the doors of Jannah for him and grant him the highest place in Jaanah tul Firdous. Ameen.”
Recalling how Dr Hashmi Sahib empowered faculty and students of JUW, Dr Rabia Badar, Chairperson, Department of Botany, JUW, observes: “I had the privilege of working closely with Prof Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi as the Student Advisor, and this association allowed me to witness firsthand his dedication to education and student development. As the founding Vice Chancellor of Jinnah University for Women, he dedicated himself to the growth and excellence of the Jinnah University for Women. I have organized numerous events under the guidance of Dr Hashmi, including convocations and Student Week, which he always ensured were conducted with the highest standards of excellence. His ability to lead with compassion, humility, and vision created a supportive and empowering environment for both faculty and students. Dr Hashmi's encouragement, trust, and guidance left an indelible mark on my career. His legacy as a scholar, leader, and an exceptional human being continues to inspire me and many others. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannah tul Firdous and reward him for his countless contributions. Ameen.”

Professor Dr Riaz Ahmed Hashmi Sahib will always be remembered as a dedicated educator who not only shaped the future of postgraduate programs at the University of Karachi and Jinnah University for Women (JUW) but also touched the lives of thousands of students, faculty, and colleagues. Dr Hashmi Sahib’s legacy will remain a beacon of excellence, compassion, and integrity — to guide the present and future generations.
Dr Hashmi Sahib is survived by two sons and a daughter: Saleem lives in Karachi, Shamim and daughter are in the United States. His wife Frau Ayesha Margit Hashmi passed away earlier. May Allah SWT bless his soul, reward him for his dedicated work of educating thousands of students in Pakistan, and assign him the highest station in Jaanah tul Firdous. Ameen.
[Dr Ahmed S. Khan ( dr.a.s.khan@ieee.org ) is a Fulbright Specialist Scholar. Professor Khan has more than 40 years of experience in Higher Education as professor of Electrical Engineering, Chair and Dean of the College of Engineering and Information Sciences. He is the author of many academic papers, technical and non-technical books, and a series of books on Science, Technology & Society (STS) — used globally in the academic programs of more than 200 universities.]