HYDERABAD: The 21st convocation session was held at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Jamshoro. Ninety two students of the Centre of Excellence in Art and Design (CEAD) were given degrees. Vice Chancellor MUET, Prof Dr Muhammad Aslam Uqaili said that students of CEAD deserved congratulations for completing their educational career at Centre. Mehran University is an engineering institute but for last four years we have been imparting our services towards arts, business and medical sector also. Dr Uqaili said that CEAD students have proved their worth and this centre was blessed with more glories than any other Centre of Excellence in Pakistan. Vice Chancellor MUET said that in the present scenario when our country was surrounded by extremism the artists could play major role to promote harmony, peace and love in the region in which the people of Indus Civilisation believe since centuries. Chairman Pakistan Council of Architects and Planners (PCATP), Asad Khan said that, “In my capacity as Chairman of PCATP I appreciate efforts taken by CEAD administration to bring this Centre to another level which is a tremendous feat and I will try to help out the problems faced by this Centre from the PCATP platform”. Our country needs skilled, patriotic and talented youth and the students who have got degrees today they have to prove themselves perfect for different institutes of the country, he added. Asad said that architects and artists could play major role in different sectors of the country. “I think our youngsters are ready and eager to play their part effectively”. Talking to local journalists, Director CEAD Prof Dr Bhai Khan Shar said that it was their first separate convocation session which indicated that MUET was recognising its role for the society. Artists are one of the major stake holders of the society and the role for harmony, love and anti-extremism they can play will be most effective. Faiza Badar Abbasi of Communication Design and Sanish Shaikh of Fine Art were honoured with gold medals and award of Best Graduate and Centre Top respectively. Nihan Mushtaque Surhio from Architecture, Faiza Badar Abbasi from Communication Design, Sanish Shaikh from Fine Arts and Mehreen Shaikh from Textile Design were honoured with silver medals for securing 1st positions in their respective departments. Nihan Mushtaque Surhio, Shehryar Khan, Mehak Naz of Architecture, Sanish Shaikh, Soham Waqar, Maham Tanweer of Fine Art, Mehreen Shaikh, Sidra Shaheen, Rabia Khanzada from Textile Design and Faiza Badar Abbasi were given Certificate of Excellence on basis of their outstanding performance in academic career. Vice Chancellor LUMHS Bikharam, Vice Chancellor Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design Lahore, Prof Hina Tayaba, PVC MUET Prof Dr Tauha Hussain Ali, Deans Prof Dr Khan Muhammad Brohi, Prof Dr Bhawani Shankar Chouhdary, Prof Dr Hafeez-ur-Rehman Memon, Prof Dr Sami Qureshi and Prof Dr Abdul Waheed Umrani were also present. Published in Daily Times, January 9th 2017.