14th convocation of GIKI held

PESHAWAR: Member provincial assembly and former federal minister Anwar Saifullah Khan Wednesday stressed the need for tackling the problems of illiteracy, poverty and underdevelopment on war footing, saying that Pakistan is a developing country where one should not wait for miracles.

Speaking as chief guest at the 14th convocation of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, he said that universities would have to undertake need-oriented, problem solving, basic and applied research to enable the country to be self-sufficient in technology. “This is a difficult task but not an impossible one. Our scientists have done a wonderful job in developing nuclear and missile technologies. Let us carry this tradition to other fields of technology to make a prosperous Pakistan,” he added.

Anwar Saifullah said that the convocation was a special day for young graduates and faculty. He paid glowing tributes to former president late Ghulam Ishaq Khan for founding the institute, which, he said, was imparting the highest standard of technical and engineering education.

Speaking on the occasion, former chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and President of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences in Pakistan Shamsul Mulk said it grieved him to see the country confronted with seemingly insurmountable problems.

“Our only hope is the younger generation. We must educate our youth properly and groom them for living a life of honest men and women inspired by the highest values of our culture and faith,” he remarked.

GIKI Rector Jehangir Bashar said the institution was set up in 1993 by a few great men of vision led by late Ghulam Ishaq Khan.

Apart from its fabulous campus, he said, the GIKI has developed state of the art facilities, particularly laboratories. “Strong linkages have been established with other research institutions and industry through joint research and sponsored projects. GIKI graduates are highly regarded by employers both in Pakistan and abroad,” he added.

The PhD degrees were awarded to Amjad Ali, Khwaja Zakaullah, Suhail Khan and Nisar Ahmad. Wardah Inam bagged both the Ghulam Ishaq Khan medal and the Quaid-i-Azam medal for distinction in academics and overall best performance during their studies in the institute.

Faculty-based gold medals for BS programme went to Nasreen Shayeq (Computer System Engineering), Syeda Hifsa Kazmi (Computer Software Engineering), Wardah Inam (Electronic Engineering), Wahab Shah (Engineering Sciences), Salman Javed (Mechanical Engineering) and Afqad Arshad (Materials Science and Engineering). Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Pro-Rector (academic), also spoke on the occasion.