Mumtaz Ali Kazi


Mumtaz Ali Kazi, popularly known as M.A. Kazi, was one of Pakistan's leading scientists and educators. He was President of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences from 1978 to 1988 and President of the Chemical Society of Pakistan from 1977 to 1990.
Kazi completed his doctorate in chemistry in 1955 from King's College London becoming one of the first PhDs of Pakistan. His professional career spanned over 45 years during which he authored a number of books, papers and articles on science and education. Kazi's major topic of research was Islam and science.

Biography

Kazi received his early education at Noor Muhammad High School, Hyderabad, Sindh and did his M.Sc from D. J. Sindh Government Science College, Karachi. He did his PhD from the King's College, London in 1955 and on his return to the country joined the University of Sindh, Jamshoro as the founder director of the Institute of Chemistry and the dean of the Science Faculty.
In 1972, Kazi was appointed the Secretary, Department of Education, Government of Sindh. Several reforms were initiated during his tenure in the education sector in the province of Sindh. A year later he moved to Islamabad as the founder chairman, University Grants Commission Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation as its chief executive and chairman of its executive committee with and rank and status of a federal minister. He remained the president of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences, Amman, Jordan, till his death in 1999.
The Institute of Chemistry at the University of Sindh was named in his honor in 1999.

Service record

Association with national organizations

Association with UNESCO

  • Member, executive board of UNESCO and
  • Member, Alternate leader, leader of Pakistan delegation to UNESCO General Conference in 1976, 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1989
  • Member, Special Committee of the executive board of UNESCO
  • UNESCO Visitor-ship to Iraq to visit Cultural, Educational and Scientific Institutions
  • Leader of Pakistan Delegation to the second CASTASIA Conference, Manila, Philippines
  • UNESCO Senior visitorship, APIED Program, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia
  • UNESCO Visitorship, Bangkok, New Delhi, Nairobi, Cairo and Paris
  • Leader Pakistan Delegation to the Conference of International Bureau of Education, Geneva, Switzerland,
  • Alternate Leader to Fourth Regional Conference of Ministers of Education and those responsible for Economic Planning in Asia and Oceania, Colombo, Sri Lanka
  • UNESCO Delegation to international conference on "Peace in the minds of men", Nairobi

Association with United Nations

  • Leader of Pakistan Delegation and vice-chairman of Intergovernmental Committee on Science and Technology for Development
  • Member United Nations Advisory Committee on Science and Technology
  • Chairman UN ACASTD Panel on Mobilization of Financial Resources for Science and Technology in the developing countries, Islamabad

Association with Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

  • President, Islamic World Academy of Sciences, Jordan
  • Chairman, Executive Committee of the OIC Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation in the Islamic Countries COMSTECH
  • Vice-Chairman of the Scientific Council, Islamic Foundation for Science. Technology and Development

Fellowships

Awards and medals

  • Hilal-e-Imtiaz,, awarded Posthumously
  • DSC by the University of Karachi
  • Pakistan Academy of Sciences Shield for Fellows who have completed 20 years of fellowship
  • Sindh University Gold Medal for rendering distinguished service to Higher Education, Culture and Science
  • Hamdard Foundation Plaque
  • Lateef Gold Medal
  • UNESCO Medal
  • Iqbal Centenary Medal
  • Silver Palm Scouts Medal