Women empowerment: Gilani announces Rs60 million grant for Kinnaird College

Says empowered women lead to an empowered society.

KARACHI: While attending the 75^th Convocation of Kinnaird College for Women (KC) as chief guest, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced a grant of Rs60 million for the school on Friday.

The grant includes funds for construction of IT laboratory, research, endowment, purchase of new vehicles and sports.

Asserting that his government supports women education and provides equal opportunities to them, Gilani said women empowerment is not empowerment of just an individual but of the entire society.

“Our government believes in empowering women and has taken practical steps in this regards. Women Protection from Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2010 and Benazir Income Support Program are part of it,” Gilani said, adding that it was his party’s government which made KC an autonomous entity.

Praising the achievements of late Arfa Karim, Malala Yousafzai and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy in his speech, the prime minister said these girls brought great pride to the country.

Mentioning his affiliation with the college, Gilani said he had visited KC for work related to his master’s thesis. “My thesis was based on the opinion of foreign students in Lahore about English press and I would visit KC to interview foreign students,” he said.

The prime minister also appreciated the fact that the college produces around 500 graduates every year who serve the country in different fields.

Gilani expressed hope that KC will expand its expertise and reach students in the far flung areas through distant learning programs.

KC graduation

Gilani awarded degrees to 221 post graduate students and to 280 graduate students. Out of these outgoing students, 36 were on the Principal’s Honor and Merit List with CGPA of 3.8 and above.

In her speech on the occasion, KC Principal Dr Rukhsana David congratulated the students for successfully completing their programs and said that the college was proud of them.

Highlighting the academic achievements of the college, David said KC had bagged 10 top positions in the intermediate examinations last year.

Speaking about KC’s expansion plan, she said that in the next academic session, the college will introduce PhD program in English Literature and Environmental Sciences and M Phil in Food Sciences and Human Nutrition. “A Bachelors program in law will also be started,” she added.

Chairman of college’s Board of Governors and Bishop of Lahore Dr Alexander John Malik congratulated the outgoing students and said that he was sure the values taught to their students would help them excel in their lives.