PESHAWAR: Three hundred graduates of the College of Home Economics Department of University of Peshawar were awarded degrees at 17th Convocation of the College held here on Monday. The students of Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) and Master of Science (M.Sc) were awarded the degrees by the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Varsity at an auspicious ceremony with Advisor to CM on Higher Education and information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani was the chief guest, who conferred degrees and medals on the students. The chief guest was accompanied by Vice Chancellor UoP Prof Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan, Secretary Higher Education Fahim Wazir, Dean Faculty of Management and Information Sciences Dr Bushra Hamid and Principal College of Home Economics Prof Dr Syeda Kaniz Fatima Haider. BSc Home Economics Tehiyat Fatima was awarded Gold Medal for the year 2013. Laloona Jalwa and Ms. Aisha were conferred Gold Medals for achieving top position in the years 2014 and 2015 respectively. In the MSc Home Economics Category, Sidra, Nayaz Noor and Gulsanga were bestowed Gold Medals for standing out in the year 2012, 2012 and 2014. Addressing the Convocation Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani said that education especially that of the female folks was KP Government’s first priority. For the purpose more women universities have been established in the province whereas special emphasis was on the setting up of female colleges in order to make higher education accessible to the women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). He opined that educating a female was tantamount to educating a community and community colleges like the College of Home Economics can pave the way for development of entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises. Commending the faculty of College of Home Economics, he said that the college has got seasoned professionals and was one of the best colleges in Pakistan, devoted to the study of Home Economics and enabling the female students to meet the challenges of a free society. Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan in his address said that the college was offering best home economics education for the last fifty four years. He said that the institution equips young women with the specialized knowledge in the field of interior design, textile design, small business management, teaching, and research. Dr Jan said that the University of Peshawar has opened new disciplines as per demand of the job market and in the recent years the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Department of Regional Studies have been made operational. He said that from the ongoing academic year admissions in the Department of Criminology and Forensic Sciences have started which would lead to production of skilled graduate of the field. The Vice Chancellor on the occasion announced the establishment of department of parliamentary studies in varsity which would provide hands on training to the legislators and politicians. Earlier the principal College of Home Economic in her performance report elaborated that Home Economics education offers degree in five separate disciplines with special emphasis on entrepreneurship development. She added that the college has 1500 students 80 faculty members and is offering PhD degree programme as well.