By. Irfan Siddiqui
In a landmark development for women’s education in Sindh, the District Council Sukkur and Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University (BNBWU) have signed a historic agreement to launch an internationally recognized ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) degree program. The initiative aims to provide female students with access to world-class education and professional qualifications, marking a major milestone in the educational history of the district.
The ACCA program will be launched under the name of Shaheed Mohtarma Asifa Bhutto Zardari, reflecting the vision of empowering women through education. The agreement was formally signed by Chairman District Council Sukkur, Syed Kamil Haider Shah, and Vice Chancellor Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University, Professor Dr. Tehmina Mangan, during a ceremony in Sukkur.
Under the terms of the agreement, the District Council Sukkur will fully bear the expenses of the ACCA program, which is considered one of the most expensive international professional qualifications. This support will enable female students of Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University to pursue the ACCA degree free of cost, removing financial barriers that often prevent access to higher education.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Syed Kamil Haider Shah described the initiative as a revolutionary step in the district’s educational journey. He said that providing free access to high-quality international education for girls would empower them to become financially independent and contribute positively to society. “Through quality education, women can secure respectable employment and play a vital role in national development,” he stated.
Syed Kamil Haider Shah emphasized that Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University will become the first women’s university where students can obtain such a prestigious and costly international qualification. He quoted Napoleon Bonaparte, saying, “Give me educated mothers, and I will conquer the world,” highlighting the critical role of women’s education in shaping future generations.
He further said that if their efforts succeed in enabling girls to achieve higher education, he would consider it the fulfillment of his responsibility toward society. He added that the District Council Sukkur has consistently taken initiatives to improve educational opportunities in the region.
Referring to other educational achievements, he mentioned that a CSS preparation program was launched at IBA University Sukkur, under which 12 male and female students successfully passed the competitive examinations.
Beyond education, the Chairman highlighted several development projects initiated by the District Council Sukkur, including the launch of the Jamalo Circular Train to improve transportation facilities, a ferry service for tourism and recreation, and a free air ambulance service to handle emergencies and accidents.
He also announced that in the first phase, the university has been granted Rs. 20 million to support the ACCA program. Speaking on national infrastructure, he remarked that Pakistan is the only country whose ports are not directly connected to motorways, adding that following protests by the Pakistan Peoples Party, work on the CPEC motorway project would soon commence.
Concluding his address, Syed Kamil Haider Shah reiterated his vision of transforming the historic city of Aror into an education hub, ensuring a brighter and more empowered future for coming generations.
