383 graduates get degrees at Ziauddin University’s 14th convocation

As many as 383 degrees were awarded to students of various disciplines at the 14th convocation of the Ziauddin University held at the Expo Centre on Thursday.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, who did not attend the 27th convocation of the University of Karachi held on April 15, was present at the private varsity’s degree-awarding ceremony as the chief guest.

Provincial education minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar and Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed were also present.

Nine top position holders received the Sir Ziauddin Ahmed Academic Excellence gold medals. They are Muhammad Shariq (Dental Surgery), Taliya Karim (Bio Medical), Mirza Omer Baig (Media Sciences), Aiesha (Medical Technology), Zinnia Mohsin (Speech Language Therapy), Hina Murad (Generic), Zoya Jabeen (Physical Therapy), Hareem Arif (MBBS) and Urooj Sheikh (Pharm D).

Congratulating the graduating students and their families, the CM Sindh acknowledged their success by stating that their accomplishment should be a source of pride to the nation. “The spirit that has inspired your achievements illustrates your dynamism, vitality and enthusiasm. We all are inspired by you success,” he said.

“You are the stewards of this nation and custodian of a very rich tradition of antiquity with modernisation. As we march towards becoming a developed nation, your role as youth of the country, become increasingly important.”

He advised the students that they should strive hard to achieve their goals and to make this country a better living place.

Complimenting the pioneers of the varsity, the CM said the quality education provided by the Ziauddin University in various professional fields was highly commendable. “Dr Sir Ziauddin Ahmed’s daughter Dr Aijaz Fatima, her husband late Dr Tajammul Hussain, Dr Asim Hussain and their family deserve all commendation for establishing the Ziauddin University and state-of-the-art hospitals to perpetuate the memory of the great champion.”

The keynote speaker, HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed told the students that the real struggle should be for making Pakistan a knowledge-based society, which was very important for sustainable development in the country.

He said education could be the change factor for this nation and the students could be the change makers.

Ziauddin University Chancellor Dr Asim Hussain, in his message, said it was a moment of celebration and honour for accomplishment of the varsity’s students and those who had taught and nourished them.

“I wish and hope that you will carry forward the legacy of Ziauddin University, and succeed in your future endeavours. I invite you to continue your association with Ziauddin [University] to which you have devoted so much time, hard work and energy.”

He said the basic principle of a country’s constitution was its equitable justice, freedom of thought and speech as permissible by law, respect of honour and dignity of man. “If these basic principles and rights are trampled then we see the emergence of a civil society with no moral values as we see emerging today.”

Earlier, Ziauddin University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui informed the audience that since the inception of Ziauddin University, more than 2,000 students had graduated and were doing well in serving the nation and abroad.

He said all the academic programmes of the Ziauddin University were accredited by the respective professional bodies along with the HEC of Pakistan.

Siddiqui said innovative changes were taking place at a fast pace and the students had to keep abreast of them. “My advice to the young graduates would be to seek and gain more and more knowledge.”

He also advised the graduating students to always bear in mind that they had taken the oath to abide by professional ethics. “You should be ready to serve humanity, speak truthfully and practice your profession without prejudice for religion, nationality, race, political or social standing.”