4th convocation: Sexagenarian graduates with 472 classmates from Dadabhoy Institute

Muhammad Abdullah Taqi received a gold medal for business administration.

KARACHI: All his life, Abdul Wasay Khan worked at deadend jobs and wondered if it was worth it. On Thursday, he finally got his answer. With a black graduation robe draped across his shoulders and an MBA degree in his right hand, the 60-year-old graduate was standing proud with nearly 473 graduates at the Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education’s fourth convocation.

“For us it is not just a degree,” said Khan’s brother Abdul Mujeed. “It is a reward for a life filled with hard work.” He added that he was glad his brother was able to complete his degree especially with a full-time job.

Muhammad Abdullah Taqi, another graduate, who received a gold medal for the highest CGPA in business administration said that the scholarships provided by the institution helped him pursue his degree especially after his father passed away in 2009. He thanked the chairman Abdullah Dadabhoy for awarding scholarships to students on merit. He also thanked his mother for always being there and helping out financially when the going got tough. He was quite confident about being able to secure a good job in the corporate sector.

Chief guest and Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazharul Haq asked the graduates to set proper goals for their future. Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said that the best investment for any nation was in the education sector. “Today I look upon you with hope,” she said. “When I look at my 14-year-old daughter, I hope that she too will play her role in making this country better.”

So far the Dadabhoy foundation has funded around 70% of the graduates in one way or another.

Economist and former federal minister Dr Hafiz Pasha discussed the history of the education sector in the country - particularly last decade. He said that Higher Education Commission had promoted a better standard of education and encouraged research in different fields. He added that although the country was going through a tough time it remain resilient make a powerful comeback.

The event was held at the Karachi Golf Club. The institute’s chairman Abdullah Dadabhoy and Rector Dr Syed Altaf Hussain were also there.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2011.