Helping the nation: SSUET celebrates its 17th convocation

Mamnoon Hussain was the chief guest at the SSUET convocation.

KARACHI: The 1,300 graduating engineers at the 17th convocation of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) were confident of bridging the gap between aspiration and reality through research, experimentation and innovation.

Wearing black robes with mustard and white selvage on the occasion on Thursday, the graduates not only walked away with degrees in the disciplines of electronic, computer, civil, biomedical, and telecommunication engineering, besides computer science, but also received some valuable advice from the president of the country, Mamnoon Hussain, who was the chief guest.



“You have achieved a milestone in your life today. Now you have to commit and prepare yourself accordingly to serve the nation,” said President Hussain. “This country deserves to have your priority and you should be equipped to root out whatever deficiencies we face today. You are advised to play your due role to take the country to new heights.”

He warned the graduates that when they enter the ‘practical world’, they will have to stand up to the challenges with integrity and determination. “Remember that there is no shortcut to achieving success,” he said.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction that since its inception, SSUET has distinguished itself as a prestigious institution of the country,” said the president. “The institution is dedicated to the promotion of science and technology as was emphasised by Quaid-e-Azam Muhamed Ali Jinnah in his message on November 27, 1947.”

The president also awarded medals to graduates who secured positions in their respective fields of study. Besides the parents and relatives of the graduates, the ceremony was also attended by the members of SSUET’s board of governors and Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association.

In his welcome address, SSUET chancellor Mohammad Adil Usman said that the university was established with a view to adorn the youth with modern knowledge by providing them with the latest technology.

Earlier, SSUET vice-chancellor Prof Dr Syed Jawaid H Rizvi told the audience that the university, which started off with a mere 222 students in 1994, now has over 6,500 students and has produced around 10,000 engineers so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2014.