Pakistanis return college to Presbyterians

Pakistanis return college to Presbyterians

LAHORE, Pakistan — A Pakistani college that had been under control of the Islamic government has been given back to the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf oversaw the hand over of Forman Christian College in Lahore during a ceremony Dec. 6. Musharraf is a graduate of the school, founded by Presbyterian missionaries in 1864.

A 1972 policy nationalized all schools and colleges in Pakistan, a decision that Musharraf called “bad public policy,” according to Presbyterian News Service.

“The nationalized institutions have done a disservice to the cause of education in Pakistan,” he said. “One must not interfere in the working of institutions that are delivering and doing well. Rather, such institutions should be allowed to flourish.”

The Louisville, Ky.-based denomination has one other college in Pakistan — Gordon College in Rawalpindi — that it hopes to take back soon.