The Allama Iqbal Open University was established in May 1974, with the main objective of providing educational opportunities to the masses and to those who cannot leave their homes and jobs. During all these past years, the University has more than fulfilled this promise.
It has opened up educational opportunities for the working people and has provided access to the females on their doorsteps. It has also done pioneering work in the field of Mass Education. It is now breaking new grounds in the fields of professional, scientific, and technical education. It is attempting to reach out to the remotest areas of Pakistan. It is also attempting to harness modern information Technology for spreading education in Pakistan.
The idea of Distance Education was first mooted in the UK in the late 60s by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Wilson. He was of the view, that educational opportunities must be provided to those who might have missed better education due to early employment and wish to upgrade, their knowledge and skills, in their spare time in the evenings at home. The UK Open University was, thus established in 1969. Since then it has become a major institution of learning in the UK and has opened up opportunities for millions of working people. The gospel of distance and Open Learning has, since then spread throughout the world. More than sixty Open Universities are operating around the world on the basis of Distance Education. Modern information technology has made the task of Distance Education much more easier and effective.