| Sadiq Public School | |
| Motto: | Do the right, fear no man |
| Location: | Bahawalpur, Punjab |
| Country: | Pakistan |
| Established: | 4 March 1953 |
| Founder: | Nawab of Bahawalpur, Sir Sadiq Muhammad Khan Abbasi V |
| Principal: | David Dowdle |
| Area: | 451acres |
| Student Union: | Old Sadiqian's Association |
The Sadiq Public School (SPS) is a college-preparatory boarding school located in Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan. It also takes day pupils. It is one of the largest schools in Pakistan and its area of 451acres makes it both the largest in the country and in continental Asia.[1] [2]
The curriculum includes education from KG[3] to O-level and A-level as well as local board Matriculation/Intermediate. The school has over 1400 boys and 600 girls supported by a staff of about 135.
The foundation stone of the school was laid by Nawab Sadeq Mohammad Khan V on 4 March 1953 and the school started functioning on 18 January 1954.[4] [5]
Pupils in each school are divided into houses. Houses promote inter-house competitions and mentorship opportunities.
The Senior school offer four types of diplomas/certifications. One branch is School Certificate/O-level (for grades 910) and the Higher Secondary School Certificate/A-level (for grades 1112).
The other two types are Secondary School Certificate or Matriculation (for grades 910) and Higher Secondary School Certificate or Intermediate (for grades 1112).
Junior School
Preparatory School
Senior School
Girls Section
At the start the school had 37 children and seven teachers. Khan Anwar Sikandar Khan was Principal for over 18 years. For his services in the field of education he was decorated with Sitara-i-Khidmat. On his retirement, Abu Zafar Haneef who was the vice-principal took over, in March 1972.
The next two principals were Col (Retd) Zahoor ul Haq from 1977 to 1990 and Sqn Ldr. (Retd.) Agha Khalil Ahmad from 1990 to 2001.
Prof. Mohammad Asif Malik took over as Principal in September 2002. He is a recipient of the President's Award of Pride of Performance for services in the field of education.
Maj. (R) Syed Munir Ahmad, an Old Sadiqian, took the charge as 6th Principal of Sadiq Public School Bahawalpur in November 2007, after the departure of Prof. Mohammad Asif Malik. He was the first Principal of Sadiq Public School who was also an old Sadiqian (left school in 1966).
Prof. Dr.Saleem Raza Chaudhry took charge as 7th Principal of Sadiq Public School on the orders of Governor Punjab Sardar Latif Khosa in August 2012.
Prof. Abdullah Shah, who at the time was serving as vice-principal of Sadiq, was appointed interim-principal. The school went through a difficult period during his supervision because of the decision to increase fees (this was reversed in a lawsuit filed by parents) and there were reports of conflicts with faculty and staff members. Allegedly due to political reasons, several office holding staff members were swapped or replaced.
Prof. Nauman Ahmed Qureshi (Old Sadiqian) took charge as the 8th principal of Sadiq in July 2014. It is noted that Nauman Ahmed Qureshi introduced several new events at Sadiq, including "Technothon" and "Sadiq MUN", while also reviving old traditional activities like the "Swimming Gala." Additionally, efforts were made to modernize certain aspects of Sadiq under his leadership.
In June 2017, Mian Muhammad Ahmed, the sitting vice-principal of the School, took charge as the acting principal. His period in office is widely regarded as an era characterized by a commitment to the principles of the rule of law. He made earnest efforts to instill the authentic Sadiqian ethos among the students, ensuring that he neither disrupted nor discontinued any longstanding Sadiq tradition, and refrained from causing harm to anyone. All decisions were made based on merit, following thorough consultations with all members of the school's higher management.[6]
In May 2019, Governor of Pujab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar commissioned Peter Giddens, a New Zealander, as the principal of the institute. During his tenure, a new girls' boarding house, "Farell House," was established, and boarding house rooms were equipped with air conditioning. Certain traditional Sadiq events, including Meena Bazaar and Sadiq MUN, were discontinued under his leadership, leading to dissatisfaction among some students.
As of 2023, David Dowdles is the principal of Sadiq.
In 1966 the admission of girls was stopped. A separate Girls' Section started in May 2003 with 9 girls and has since grown to more than 700 girls with more than 100 boarders commissioned August 2006. The new academic building for girls, donated by H.H. the Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of UAE, was completed on July 25, 2008 for girls classes (Class 6 to 12). Lessons for girls in the new building began on October 6, 2008.
An IT Centre has been established adjacent to the senior school academic block. Labs are equipped with computer workstations.
Administratively, the school is governed by a Board of Governors with the Governor of the Punjab as its president. District Co-ordination Officer, Bahawalpur and Principal of the school are members of the board along with the GOC 35th Division, Bahawalpur. Six to eight Old-Sadiqians sit as members of the Board for a period of three years. The day-to-day administration is entrusted to the Principal, managed by the executive committee with the General Officer Commanding 35 Division as its chairman.
The hospital at Sadiq Public School is fully equipped with modern machinery and with an ambulance with 24 hours services.
Notable alumni include: