Caps and gowns: Sukkur IBA awards degrees to around 200 graduates at its second convocation

Sindh govt committed to ‘education for all’, says CM.

SUKKUR: Sindh’s education sector was lagging behind before Pakistan Peoples Party took over seven years ago but we were committed to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s slogan of ‘employment for all and education for all’, claimed provincial chief minister Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday.

Speaking as the chief guest at the second convocation of Sukkur Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Shah said that his government was committed to developing education in the province and had given jobs to over 200,000 educated youth on the basis of merit.

“We have reopened thousands of closed primary schools because they form the base of education,” he asserted, adding that the government will induct dedicated teachers at the union-council level.

Addressing the degree recipients, the CM told them that their real test had begun. “Your parents and teachers have done their jobs by bringing you to the stage where you have today received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees,” he remarked. “Most people run after lucrative jobs but I advise you to serve your own community in letter and spirit.”

Praising the untiring efforts of Sukkur IBA director Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui, Shah commented that bureaucrats rarely took interest in education but in this case, a retired commissioner had turned into an excellent educationist. “He may not have constructed this building but is undoubtedly the architect of this institute.”

Meanwhile, congratulating the graduates in his speech, Sindh education minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro told them that it was now their turn to serve their families and country. “Your merit will be valued because you have received state-of-the-art education here,” he assured. He pointed out that most of the medals had gone to the female students, quipping that the crown should be kept by them.

In his welcome address, Siddiqui, the institute director, said that Sukkur IBA was recognised as a degree-awarding institute in 2006. “Due to our untiring efforts over the last nine years, it has been ranked as the third-best business school in Pakistan by the Higher Education Commission,” he disclosed. “Our next goal is to get the first position.”

According to Siddiqui, good quality education was accessible to everyone at Sukkur IBA through their talent hunt programme. He added that they had launched a unique degree programme in collaboration with Faisalabad Agriculture University, under which students will study agriculture and business administration. He said that 40 students were currently enrolled in the agriculture programme in Faisalabad.

“In order to cater to the energy needs, Sukkur IBA has also launched an alternate energy system programme, in line with which this campus will shortly be switched over to solar energy,” he said. “We are also planning to run 20 primary schools on solar energy.”

The CM conferred degrees upon around 200 students for Bachelor’s in business administration, electrical engineering and computer science, as well as Master’s in business administration and computer science and associates degrees in education. Gold, silver and bronze medals were also awarded to 10 students.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th, 2015.