Convocation ceremony: Technology to pave way for progress, says Rajwana

Islamia University of Bahawalpur’s class of 2011 walks the stage

BAHAWALPUR:

“Congratulations,” Governor Rafiq Rajwana said to the Islamia University of Bahawalpur’s graduating class of 2011. “Your degrees hold immense significance for your professional life…you must, now, put your education to good use and work hard for the progress and prosperity of the nation.”

Islamia University of Bahawalpur held its eighth convocation at the sports complex at Baghdadul Jadeed Campus on Thursday. Degrees and medals were awarded to 881 graduates of the class of 2011. They included 16 PhD, 41 MPhil and 661 MA/MSc and BS degree holders and 89 gold medals and 66 silver medals were handed out to high achievers.

Addressing the graduates, Rajwana said the youth should have a passion for serving the nation. “Your country has complete faith in you.”

He said the government was trying to develop the higher education sector to develop a knowledge-based economy. “In order to achieve that, we must provide our youth knowhow of latest technology and equip them with the tools necessary for competing with a global market.”

The governor stressed the need for engaging with market-based disciplines. “We can get our share of international development by focusing on science and technology.”

Rajwana said the IUB was built on the “Rohi, the land of Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid (RA)”. Therefore, it was the duty of all those who resided on it to promote love, peace and tranquillity, he said.

The governor congratulated the university’s vice chancellor for spearheading several projects that were steadily putting IUB on the map. He also assured the vice chancellor of his support in building a housing scheme for employees, in administrative matters of the Higher Education Department and in getting incentives for differently-abled students.

Vice Chancellor Qaiser Mushtaq said it was the university’s top priority to prepare its students for engaging in top-class research and development. He said they were also working on developing an administrative staff which was equipped with the latest knowledge of how to run university affairs in an exemplary manner. “This is why we hold six selection boards every few months.”

He said the university was looking to appoint 256 academic and 947 administrative staff by the end of the year. Training sessions for 300 employees had been held to improve their working skills.

Mushtaq said he was working on obtaining approval for projects costing Rs850 million. “That will be a landmark achievement for the IUB.”

The vice chancellor thanked IUB Chancellor Rajwana and other the distinguished guests for gracing the occasion. Several members of parliament, divisional and district administrations, Science Dean Prof Muhammad Asghar Hashmi, Arts Dean Mamuna Ghani, Pharmacy Dean Prof Dr Mahmood Ahmed, Registrar Abdul Sattar, faculty members, administrative staff and students participated in the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 11^th, 2015.