Says no change in CPEC route; addresses 61st convocation
of Government Islamia College, Railway Road
President Mamnoon Hussain has advised the youth to focus on acquiring higher education particularly in science, technology and IT to contribute to the progress and development of Pakistan.
He was addressing the 61st convocation of Government Islamia College (GIC), Railway Road, here at Alhamra Hall on Saturday.
Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafique Rajwana, Provincial Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gilani, Punjab University vice-chancellor and GIC Principal Professor Tahir Javed were also present.
Mamnoon Hussain said," It is great honour for me to participate in the convocation of Islamia College, Lahore, which remained centre of Pakistan Movement for Punjab and adjoining areas. The then students of this institution used to seek guidance from Father of the Nation and take his message of Pakistan Movement to every nook and corner."
He said, "Today, nation's esteemed institution (Islamia College Lahore) is completing 125 years of existence, and called for promoting legacy and traditions of our predecessors."
The president of Pakistan said that the youth were the precious asset to the nation, adding that corruption had prevented the country's growth so the youth had to play their role in eradicating this menace."
The youth should not be despondent as Pakistan has now bright future and they must focus on contributing to its development, he added.
He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a mega project that would positively change the fate of the region, as it would generate employment opportunities and expedite business activities.
Completion of the CPEC would usher in progress and prosperity not only in Pakistan but also in the entire region, he maintained.
The president noted that sound fiscal and economic policies had turned around country's economy, which was also being acknowledged by the international financial institutions.
He stated that a number of projects of energy generation, infrastructural and industrial development had been started. He called upon the people belonging to every walk of life to support the government in completion of these projects.
The president underscored that there had been no change in the CPEC route, asserting that people should reject negative propaganda in this regard. The government, he said, was committed to ensuring equal development in all sectors, including education, health, infrastructure and transport.
He said that, keeping in view the country's current political, social and economic situation, the nation needed to produce such personalities, who rendered their services in various fields for development and stability of the motherland.
Mamnoon Hussain said that only those nations had bright future prospects which retained their history and paid tributes to their predecessors.
In this context, he added, Government Islamia College had much more responsibility in identifying nation's issues as well as providing viable solutions to them, asserting that this could be possible only when these institutions turned into centre of excellence for promotion of knowledge.
The president emphasised that it was prime responsibility of the GIC students and faculty members to uphold the prestige and dignity of this eminent seat of learning to take forward the legacy and teachings of Quaid-i-Azam.
President Mamnoon Hussain congratulated the graduating students and hoped that they, in their practical life, would continue to work for the betterment of Pakistan.
He gave away medals to the position-holder students of various disciplines. The GIC principal presented a shield to the president as memento.