Big day: 1,742 graduates conferred degrees, medals at IUB convocation

VC says jobs were given to 50 children of those who died during service

BAHAWALPUR: At least 1,742 graduates, who completed their PhD, MPhil and other courses, were awarded medals and degrees at the 12th Convocation of Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) on Wednesday.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Raza Haider Gilani, IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof Qaisar Mushtaq deans of faculties, academics and students attended the ceremony.

Raza Haider Gilani said the graduates should work hard instead of adopting short cuts. “People in western countries consider themselves as best nations of the world as they believe in hard work,” he said.

Criticising the western culture, he said that western countries take Pakistani immigrants as aliens. “Despite the fact that western countries gave nationality to a large number of Pakistanis, they did not accept them as first level citizens.”

Raza Haider Gilani said that university graduates should appreciate their parents who raised and provided them higher education. He advised them to be thankful to their teachers who imparted education to them.

He said education without civilised attitudes and training of etiquettes could not bear fruits and make society positive.

While highlighting China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, he said the income generated from toll plazas on 2,400 kilometre long Gwadar-Khanjrab route and its rail service would be more than the annual financial budget of Pakistan.

He said, “Dubai port consists of 67 berths and ships are anchored in deep sea instead of at the dock.” He added, “On the contrary, Gwadar deep sea port having 120 berths will provide the facility to ships to be anchored at berths due to its deep sea.

The minister maintained that Gwadar port will become more important than Dubai port.

He pointed out that some western and neighboring countries had perceived that complete functioning of Gwadar deep sea port and CPEC would damage their economies, including their currencies.

“Therefore, such forces have started opposing development work at Gwadar port and CPEC and are putting hurdles in completion of mega projects.”

The minister said that under the CPEC, 35 billion dollars were being spent on power generation projects in Pakistan and Sahiwal Power Plant was part of it.

“Pakistan will have several new industries that would be part of the CPEC,” he said.

He claimed that in the second phase of CPEC, a road would be constructed to connect Pakistan with Europe to increase trade activities.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Qaiser Mushtaq highlighted the achievements of the university and said that university’s ranking among other universities of the country had increased manyfold due to completion of different mega developmental and educational projects.

He said over 20,500 students were enrolled in 58 different disciplines of the university. He added that during the last three years, 237 faculty members were appointed while over 1,000 employees had been promoted.

The VC said keeping in view the policy of government jobs were given to 50 children and spouse of those who died during service.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2017.