Monday 3rd August 2009 was to be the first Club Meeting of the month. Yes, the Members did meet. They met each other silently. It was the funeral time for the Charter Member of Rotary Club of Lahore Sharqi… PP Rtn. Najm ul Haq who died on August 2, 2009.
Rtn. Najm-ul-haq was born on 06-12-1930 in Peshawar. He graduated from McLegan Engineering College (now University of Engineering and Technology) in 1951 and proceeded to Manchester-UK and later to Kulmbach-Germany where he specialized in Water and Sewage Treatment technology. Rtn. Najm-ul-Haq was trained in the classic German traditions of pursuit of excellence and perfection – these traits became his passion as he returned to Pakistan to set up Federal Construction Corporation. He introduced technologies of water and sewage treatment to this emerging economy.
He was perhaps the first Pakistani engineer to export turn key projects of significant scale to Syria/Iran/Sri Lanka/ Bangladesh and Kenya. His success was an blend of passion, commitment, hard work and above all a desire to build a robust engineering industry in Pakistan. In the process thousands of professionals benefited via training and exposure.
He worked till his last and died with boots on as the divisional head at Etimaad Engineering where he supervised the birth of water and sewage division. In his final decade he bravely battled chronic ailments. He never let this deter him for pursuing his work at Etimaad or his volunteer zeal exhibited in many roles at the Rotary movement which was very dear to his heart.
In the early years of the Club he had to go abroad for a long stay. On return to homeland, he rejoined his old Club. He became a very active, helpful, resourceful member who was soon to be the Club President. Simultaneously, he groomed his daughter Mrs. Andleeb. In the years to come, Past Rotarian Mrs. Andleeb Naveed was also crowned with Club President-ship. It was a Rotary Family. PP Najm ul Haq was a Major Donor and the whole family (Wife, 2 sons and daughter) is Rotarian and PHF. He served as District Secretary with PDG Riaz-ul-Hassan Ghauri. He was awarded the Best Rotarian and other various awards at the district level.
He was buried at around sunset on August 3, 2009. May the noble soul rest in peace, eternally!
Indeed its a great loss to Rotary in Pakistan and to District 3270.
I have always been a great admirer of Late PP Najam. He was a real ROTARIAN. There could not be a better way of describing him.He is a personal loss to every rotarian in the District.
May Almighty Allah bless his soul in peace and give the strength to his family to learn to live without him. I am sure its going to be difficult for them. I remember a few years back when I was in Lahore and he had arranged a dinner at his house and how he forced me to attend. A man full of love and sincerity.A quality which is rare these days. He surely is going to be remembered for a long time. Usman Masud