Pakistan emerging as ‘Gulf’ of South Asia: minister

400 graduates of women college receive degrees

LAHORE

The 3rd convocation of Government Degree College for Women, Wapda Town, was held on Monday in which 400 students of 2011-16 sessions received graduation degrees.

Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani was the chief guest on the occasion who also gave away seven gold medals, six silver medals and as many bronze medals to the shining students.

Addressing the ceremony, the minister said that CPEC symbolised vibrant future of Pakistan, and added that Pakistan was emerging as the “Gulf” of South Asia where people would come from across the globe for employment.

The minister announced upgrading Government Degree College for Women, Wapda Town, to postgraduate level to facilitate the suburban areas. He announced post-graduation classes would start this year to ensure continuity in education of students of this college. He also announced providing funds for the construction of 10 new classrooms as well as a modern auditorium for holding the co-curricular activities.

Raza Gillani made a policy announcement that all degree-recipients would stand up as a mark of respect after the convocation to pay homage to their parents and teachers for providing necessary support in their education. He maintained that youths should not take education as a career-support but use it as a necessary tool for moving forward in practical life. He said the students should have full grasp on their subjects to act as best agents of change in their respective fields. They should also continuously strive to improve their knowledge and use their intellectual ken for students’ composite development.

Gillani also asked the students to remain beware of cultural invasion in the wake of rising globalisation as digital revolution has affected everybody, and asked them to empower themselves with teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) to sensitise the global community about the vibrancy of Islam in the 21st century. Muslim culture is our strong identity, he added. Through the successful holding of PSL, Pakistanis have again shown to the world that they are a vibrant nation who is not afraid of any sort of terrorism.The minister told that refresher courses would be conducted thrice a year in the teacher training academies to be set up under the umbrella of higher education department in the province.