3rd convocation of NUST School of Social Sciences & Humanities held

Islamabad

Social Sciences graduates must put fair efforts to establish equitable distribution of resources and better governance systems in Pakistan, former Finance Minister Dr Salman Shah said here on Thursday. He was speaking as the chief guest at the 3rd convocation of the School of Social Sciences & Humanities (S3H), National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST).

A total of 169 undergraduate and postgraduate students were awarded degrees at the convocation. Of these, 121 received Bachelor’s degrees in the disciplines of Economics, Mass Communication, and Public Administration, while the remaining 48 were conferred master’s degrees in Economics, MS Mass Communication, and MS Clinical Psychology. The convocation ceremony was held in the Jinnah Auditorium at the university’s H-12 campus.

Dr Salman Shah said if natural and applied sciences provide the hardware for progress, then social sciences are the software of development. He said the social sciences graduates are the future architects of societal systems and they must work as nation builders for a progressive and enlightened society. Advising the graduates, he said, “I hope you will consider it your bounded duty to work for the welfare of society, help reduce inequality and income disparity, and empower the disenfranchised.” He said the problems such as poverty and malnutrition that currently plague Pakistan are due to corruption, incompetence, and bad governance. The social sciences graduates can adopt ethical behavior and work to establish just and equitable distribution of resources and better governance systems in the country.

Lieutenant General (r) Naweed Zaman, encouraged the graduates to be just in their dealings, especially when they find themselves in leadership roles. He said good leaders motivate and inspire their fellows and subordinates by displaying a strong character, moral courage, setting personal examples, and imparting justice. The Rector said the NUST graduates are responsible citizens but they have a bigger role to play in the progress of Pakistani society. “You have the added responsibility of bringing a difference to the lives of your compatriots,” he added.

At the occasion, the chief guest, besides presenting degrees to the graduates, also awarded eight President’s gold medals and three Chancellor’s silver medals to students for outstanding academic achievement. The Best Teacher award was bestowed upon Dr Zafar Mahmood, who heads the department of research as well as the department of development studies at S3H.