Raheel Sharif donates Rs 2 million to GCU

LAHORE: Former chief of the army staff retired Gen Raheel Sharif donated Rs2 million to his alma mater Government College University Endowment Fund Trust that pays fees of the financially challenged students.

He announced the donation while addressing the Old Ravians Union (ORU) annual dinner at the university’s Oval Ground on Saturday night. He was the chief guest at the ceremony.

Gen (reted) Sharif said the visit to his alma mater had filled him with nostalgia of student life. “I strongly miss the maroon blazer, my motorbike and all the flavours of a Ravian life, especially the respect,” he said.

He said that his sister had done her masters from the GCU, while his two brothers — Maj Shabbir Sharif Shaheed (Nishan-e-Haider) and Capt Mumtaz Sharif — also studied at the institution.

Gen Raheel paid tribute to his teachers for inculcating in him the values and spirit to fight various challenges in life with dignity and honour.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said a sum of Rs360 million had been collected by the GCU Endowment Fund Trust to help more than 600 students every year.

General Raheel Sharif, who started and led Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the country, retired from his post on November 29, 2016, handing over the command of Pakistan army to Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.