Caps and gowns: 96 medical graduates awarded degrees at Liaquat National convocation

Gold medalist Kinza Zia awarded Rs200,000

KARACHI: The fifth annual degree distribution ceremony of Liaquat National Medical College (LNMC) was held on Saturday at Liaquat National Hospital's auditorium.

As many as 96 students were awarded MBBS degrees, of which there were 67 women and 29 men. The first three positions were won by women. Kinza Zia obtained the first position and was awarded a gold medal and Rs200,000, Bihar Anjum Khan secured the second position and a silver medal along with Rs150,000, while the third position went to Aisha Rehman who was awarded Rs100,000.

Karachi University (KU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan, in his presidential address to the convocation, said that it is the moral responsibility of the students, after completing their education, to play an important role in serving the country.

"Your real life has started, which is very different from academic life," he said.



He urged the female graduates, who were more in number than their male counterparts, to not sit at home under any pressure and play their role in practical life to serve humanity, which is one of the purposes of education.

Dr Ajmal was all praise for the parents, whom he called the real guests of the ceremony, for having ensured through their nurturing and efforts that their children graduated from a respectable educational institution of Pakistan.

LNMC Dean and Principal Professor Amir Ali Shoro said that this is a day of great pride for the students, but now their responsibilities have increased to serve humanity. He noted that students who had completed their degrees from the medical college had also completed their house jobs from the same institution. He expressed the hope that those students who had gone abroad would come back soon and serve Pakistan.

The medical director of the hospital, Dr Salman Fareedi, asked the students to choose between passion and fear and decide whether they would make their decisions on what others say or by themselves.



He said that future doctors have to serve while feeling the pain of the patients and remembering the lessons of humanity.

Zia, who obtained the first position, told Express News that her family was settled in Saudi Arabia, while she stayed in Pakistan to complete her education.

"My father came here especially to attend the convocation and it is a matter of great happiness for my parents that their dreams have been fulfilled today," she said, adding that it was her desire to remain in Pakistan so she could serve the people. She said she would apply what she has learnt in her practical life.

Bihar, who secured the second position, dedicated her success to her parents and teachers. "I have been successful due to their confidence and hard work. My name will be taken with pride in the family. To reach this status and day, I had to work hard for five years and I thank Allah for the success," she said.