Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan on Saturday declared the students are true architects of national future, and said that new generation would compensate for the shortcomings of past 7 decades.
He was addressing the 12th convocation of The University of Faisalabad (TUF) where degrees were conferred upon 1,811 graduates including 24 PhD scholars.
He said that the convocation was not merely a ceremony of degree distribution but the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice, perseverance and unwavering commitment.
He paid tribute to parents for making extraordinary sacrifices for their children’s education despite inflation, unemployment and financial hardships and said that their selfless efforts had enabled the youth to reach this milestone of success.
He lauded the academic and research contributions of The University of Faisalabad over the past two decades and said that this institution had emerged as a leading center of learning, character-building and innovation.
He said the university’s inclusion among world’s top 400 institutions in global rankings was clear proof that it was nurturing not only academic excellence but also vision, purpose and integrity.
He also praised the services of Madina Foundation and termed its contributions to education as historic.
Emphasizing the role of youth in national development, the governor urged the graduates to carry forward the values of honesty, service and hard work into their practical lives.
He said opportunities are not handed over on a plate but must be earned through struggle and perseverance. Those occupying positions of power seldom vacate space easily, therefore the youth must carve their own paths with dedication and competence, he added.
He appreciated the unique tradition of students taking an oath at the university’s convocation and called it a sacred promise before Allah rather than a mere ceremonial formality. He urged the graduates to remain steadfast to their commitments.
The governor also praised the students for their charitable contributions for flood-affected people and appealed to the youth to actively participate in welfare initiatives in collaboration with organizations like the Punjab Red Crescent to bring tangible improvement in the lives of underprivileged.
Chairman TUF Board of Governors Haider Amin in his address said that talent knows no geographical boundaries and Pakistan’s future was bright as a majority of its population comprised youth, with two out of three citizens below the age of 30.
He said education should be pursued not only for degrees but to leave a positive impact on society, describing self-confidence as the most powerful currency in the world.
University Rector Amanullah Malik said that the convocation marked the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of graduates as doors of professional life had now opened for them.
He said that more than 1,800 students had completed their academic journey with distinction in various disciplines and the knowledge and experience gained at the university would help them excel if they devoted themselves to the service of humanity.
Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Patron-in-Chief Madina Foundation Mian Muhammad Hanif, Vice Chairman Board of Governors Dr Hamza Amin and others were also present on the occasion.
During convocation, the university’s Alpha Welfare Society presented a cheque of Rs.1.6 million to the Punjab Red Crescent for flood victims while Green Welfare Community of Green International University Lahore donated Rs.1.4 million which the governor termed a shining example of students’ spirit of service.
Out of the total 1,811 graduates, 1,205 belonged to Medicine and Allied Health Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 288 to Engineering and Information Technology, 213 to Management Studies and 105 to Arts and Social Sciences, while 24 students were awarded PhD degrees.
For outstanding performance, 34 graduates received Saleem Gold Medals, 33 were awarded Mukhtar Silver Medals and 33 were conferred Ameen Bronze Medals.