Day before yesterday Pakistan's renowned horticulturist (and founder of the Horticultural Society of Pakistan) Mr. A. K. Khan passed away peacefully at his home (at the age of 96). Every lover of plants and trees over here is feeling this like an unrecoverable loss... Mr. A. K. Khan literally inspired countless number of people in his lifetime. Here is Mr. A. K. Khan's interview published a few years ago: http://www.dawn.com/news/648210/flashback-an-evergreen-shade I myself will always remember him very fondly, and will also miss him a lot too. To me he was not just an expert when it came to sharing horticultural advice and wisdom, but he was also the last living acquaintance of my late grandfather...
He sounds like a man many gardeners will miss, 96 is a very long life and he spent it well helping others to learn and love the earth they are here to take care of. It leaves you with a great sense of loss when the last of a group of elders you grew up with and greatly admired passes. Thank you for letting us get to know him in a small way.
He has touched so many lives and his memory will live on. ..He has done quite a bit in his life and people won't forget him.
I'm sorry for, not only losing a man you knew and admired, but also one that had so much knowledge and used it to help others.
Thanks guys for keeping Mr. Khan and his immediate family in your thoughts and prayers. And thanks also for all your comments. He really was a wonderful and very soft spoken man, a thorough gentleman in every respect! Here by the way is a picture of me with Mr. A. K. Khan, from 2005... And in this video of mine, (which I am sure many of you must have seen before) - You can see Mr. A. K. Khan in the 2011 Flower Show's opening ceremony.
I enjoyed your video. The opening ceremony, dances, etc. were interesting but the flowers really caught my eye! I also enjoyed the woodworking. I guess it would be quicker to say I enjoyed it all.
Well, if you enjoyed the video, then just imagine what it would be like being there for real, for a total of 4 full days (every year)! All of it of course only became possible because of Mr. A. K. Khan. who from the day of establishing the Horticultural Society of Pakistan himself (in 1948), till his last day, managed almost everything by himself. He also kept the HSP non-commercial, non-politicized, and thus non-controversial in every way. http://www.hsp48.org/ http://www.hsp48.org/history.html http://www.hsp48.org/about-us.html Because the actual aim of HSP was simple and pure, (which was and still is to promote the spread of greenery everywhere, and also to inspire people from all walks of life to participate in this healthy activity) - Thus the Horticultural Society of Pakistan kept growing and still continues to grow! So this is the real gift, which Mr. A. K. Khan has left us with - A truly selfless man by nature, as well as a thorough gentleman in every respect. Which is why he is now being missed very badly by everyone...
Last Saturday evening the Horticultural Society of Pakistan paid a tribute to Mr. A. K. Khan. Among those who spoke, was the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Anwar Zaheer Jamali, (who specially took out time from his busy schedule to attend the event). Read all about it here: http://www.dawn.com/news/1218144/tribute-paid-to-late-horticulturist-ak-khan The late Mr. A.K. Khan wanted to give Karachi city a botanical garden and was tirelessly working towards this goal in his final years. So former HSP chairman retired Lt Gen Jehanzeb Arbab announced that his dream would now be made into a reality very soon, at a park in DHA Phase 8 that would also be named after Mr. Khan.
