Arif-ur-Rehman Alvi is a dentist, a politician, and a member of a well-known political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). He has served as the thirteenth President of Pakistan. Arif is well known for his outstanding leadership, innovative ideas and initiatives. He launched it during his presidency. He is a professional dentist, too.
Biography
Arif Alvi was born on 29 July 1949 in Karachi. He was a dentist by profession but joined politics in the 1960s. He was a member of the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami and then joined PTI.
Family Background
His father, Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman Elahi Alvi, was a dental surgeon. He migrated to Pakistan during independence in 1947. He started his practice in Karachi. His father inspired him to opt for dentistry as a career. He has a tremendous and educated family background.
His family includes his wife, Samina Alvi. They have four children together: two sons, Awab Alvi and Adeel Alvi, and two daughters, Maryam Alvi and Anusha Alvi.
Education
He started his early education in his native town from Karachi Grammar School. Unfortunately, the school administration ordered his expulsion from school because his father started a campaign against the Bible classes. Alvi completed his schooling at another school in Karachi. Later, he moved to Lahore. In 1967, he started his education in dentistry at De’Montmorency College of Dentistry. Arif has completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree. He has further thrust for schooling.
He went to the University of Michigan to start his master’s degree in Prosthodontics. In 1975, he completed his master’s degree. Arif’s education journey continued. He went to San Francisco, California. In 1984, he completed another master’s in orthodontics at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco. He returned to Pakistan and set up a clinic named Alvi Dental Hospital.
Professional Career
His professional career was bright. He practised dentistry in the US as well as in Pakistan. He gained recognition in the field by establishing a dental clinic in Karachi. He has been the Chairman of the Pakistan International Dental Conference twice. He served as a Patron in the fifth conference. He also became the Chairman of the Asia Pacific Dental Congress. Then, he became the President of the Asia Pacific Dental Federation. His career was multifaceted. He is also an author who wrote his book, theses and articles. He joined politics later.
Political Journey
In the 1960s, he joined the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. He quit Jamaat-e-Islami in 1988. He said that they had a narrow focus on politics. He believed in honest and remarkable leadership. He considered it to be the only solution to Pakistan’s problems. Imran Khan Niazi inspired him. Imran Khan founded PTI in 1996 and was one of its founding members. Arif Alvi became one of its key members. He served as Secretary General of PTI till 2013. His contributions to the party are appreciable. He advocated for transparency, good governance and anti-corruption initiatives. In 2013, he participated in the elections and became a member of National Assembly of Pakistan in 2013. In September 2018, Arif Alvi became the 13th President of Pakistan, succeeding the former President, Mamoon Hussain. He represented Pakistan on various international forums as a President.
Initiatives and Projects
As the President, he focused on economic reforms. He initiated the Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing (PIAIC). He introduced many welfare and social projects, including health and education.
He promoted the use of technology in education, research and businesses. He introduced the use of AI and IoT in industries as well. He highlighted women’s empowerment in tech fields, which resulted in women’s contribution to PIAC. He established excellent foreign relations.
He has played a vital role in enrolling out-of-school children (OSCs) to schools. He enhanced the educational system. He highlighted the importance of literacy, especially primary education and motivated youth to enrol in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programs. He believed that mosques and Ulmaa could play a role in increasing literacy by introducing literacy programs between Fajar and Zuhr prayers.
Conclusion
Arif Alvi proved to be a great dentist and politician through his influential personality. Historians will be aware of his era’s technical and educational advancements. He played a significant role in the development and shaping of Pakistan.