Government College Okara History

History of G.C. Okara

With a single drop of ink for a mirror, a sorcerer undertakes to reveal to any chance comer far-reaching visions of the past. This is what we undertake to do for you, reader. With this drop of ink at the end of our pen, we shall show you the roomy red –coloured building, in the city of Okara, once known for its Cotton Mills at the far end, as it appeared on the eighteenth of August, 1958 when the foundation stone was laid at the very heart of the Main Hall as a badge to a dignitary. In the days when the spinning-wheels hummed busily in the countryside -- and even great ladies, clothed in silk and thread-lace, had their spinning-wheels of polished black sesame – this building peeped from among the untrimly high wooded and low-wooded trees on the high rising towers of two great Mosques on one side and with the eye of a visionary on the great park which was later to be called the Company Park and the Okara Stadium. This C-shaped building has been adorned with a number of foundation stones starting from the humble origin of a Primary School in 1910 to a Postgraduate College in 1996 before its first centenary celebrated in 2010. The College has also celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 2008 by the children of its soil whose fathers were the sons of the founding fathers. This imperial building, with comfortable dwelling-house in north-western corner, as old as indigenous neem, the banyans, brahminee fig trees and red gums that shelter it from the southern side, welcomes thousands of the thirsty-for-knowledge at its Pierian springs each day.

It was established in 1958 when the District Administration and the Municipal Committee fulfilled the cherished desire of the masses to upgrade M.B High School to College. The Provincial Minister Mukhdoomzada Hasan Mehmood laid the foundation stone of the College on Aug. 30, 1958. Mr. Abbas Akhter Sheikh took the charge of the office on Dec. 22, 1958 and thus the classes started in the college. 

In 1962, the Principal Ata Muheyuddin introduced pre-medical and pre-engineering faculties. In 1963, the college was upgraded to the degree level and a separate faculty for women commenced. The Government nationalized the college in 1973 and many new subjects were introduced in the College. New labs and lecture theaters were constructed.

In 1983, Govt. College for Women started its classes in separate newly constructed campus. Principal Mr. Muhammad Asgher took the charge of the office of the principal. In 1986, the B.Sc. classes started in the College. Dr. Ghazanfer Hussain became the principal in 1989. Eight class rooms and four labs were added in Science block during his principal-ship.
Mr Ejaz ul Haque took the charge of the principal-ship on July 7, 1996. A new tube-well was setup and a new block consisting of sixteen class rooms was built. The subject of library science was introduced and I.C.S classes were launched during his principal-ship. The classes of M.A English and M.A Economics began in the College with the permission of the University of the Punjab Lahore. Ex-District Nazim,  Sayyed Sajjad Haider Karmani allotted Rs. 10.79 million for the construction of 16 new classrooms. Ex-Federal Minister, Rao Sikandar Iqbal granted initially Rs. 60 Lac for new college library.

With the changing circumstances in the brick and stone houses, with well-walled orchards, concrete roads, imported flora and fauna, well-established grain and fruit markets, the rushy bazaars, the hub of economic life and, moreover, the increasing population, the Government Postgraduate College has adapted itself to cater the need of the day by introducing IT, I. Com and Masters in Economics and English. We pay tributes to the masses of the District Okara for selecting this fountain of knowledge for their young ones and the heads of this institution who rendered meritorious services to the sacred cause of nation building.

This alma mater has weaned thousands of the first rank politicians, professors, doctors, engineers, civil and military officers, lawyers, business magnates, athletes and showbiz stars. The Government Postgraduate College is a herald in setting its traditions of quality education, uncompromising discipline and untiring, disinterested in reputation faculty.

    

(May this Institution flourish more and become  a real seat of learning and the torch of  knowledge may keep burning with its eternal flame. AMEN !)