Lums convocation: Graduates urged to take risks, innovate

State Bank governor tells students Pakistan is best place for them.

LAHORE:

Young graduates should stay in Pakistan and pursue careers here not just because their country needs them, but because they have a chance to make the biggest impact here too, said State Bank of Pakistan Governor Shahid Kardar in the convocational address at the Lahore University of Management Sciences on Saturday.

“Once you get a better sense of the economic and political challenges facing the developed world in the next 18 months, Pakistan will end up looking really good,” Kardar said, adding: “This country and its less fortunate people need you.”

Addressing the 567 students who were awarded masters and bachelors degrees at Lums’ 23rd Convocation, he said that the most successful in their work lives would be those that took risks and innovated.

“Do not be daunted by risk or the fear of failure – it is better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. And do not become jaded like people of my generation – instead, be optimistic and challenge conventional thinking,” Kardar said.

He added: “Such a career will not be easy to launch as you may end up following many dead leads; you will have to do a lot of leg-work, and there is no guaranteed reward; you will not have the luxury of going into the same office every morning, but will have to explore a new path every day. It might sound positively intimidating but this can be the difference between living a life that means something and living a life with nothing more than good means.”

He advised the students to make careers out of their passions. “Do what you enjoy, since most of your adult life will be spent working which may mean that you will end up with a job/career by sheer accident unless you look for it passionately – it is the same as in love.”

Kardar’s speech was much appreciated by the students. “Mr Kardar is right. Many of us pursue and find the same friends abroad applying in various universities and very few come back to pursue their careers here in Pakistan. This should be worked upon,” said Usman Liaqat, who won a gold medal for social sciences.

A total of 91 graduates achieved distinctions, made the dean’s honour list and were awarded medals. The students wore gowns of various colours representing the department they graduated from.

This year also marked the tenth year of the National Outreach Programme (NOP), which gives underprivileged students a chance to get into Lums. NOP scholar Talal Khan won first position overall for the year and Talal Qasim was a gold medallist.

“Lums was a rollercoaster ride with lots of ups and downs. I’m thankful for all of it, especially that they gave opportunities to students who couldn’t afford the fees,” Qasim said.

Rector Abdul Razzak Dawood and Vice Chancellor Ahmad Jan Durrani also attended the ceremony at the Syed Maratib Ali Sports Complex.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2011.