The ninth convocation of King Edward Medical University (KEMU) was held at the historical Library Hall of KEMU on Friday. More than 400 students received their degrees including 320 MBBS and 89 post graduate students. Medals were awarded to 45 position holders. Sara Arif was declared the all-round best graduate for the year 2017 with 15 medals in different subjects. The students who achieved gold medals included Aiman Shireen, Ayesha Irfan, Hira Jamil, Kanza Yousaf, Unsa Athar, Zebreen Tahir, Ali Naveed and Awais Raza, while Dr Parish Bhandari was awarded with the Gold Medal in Post Graduates. Punjab Governor Chaudhary Muhammad Sarwar was the chief guest on the occasion. In his address he said that KEMU had excellent faculty. He congratulated all the graduates, medal holders and their parents. He advised that all graduates must remember their alma mater and their motto that Pakistani doctors are the best doctors of the world. The students must respect their parents and teachers because teachers feel pride on the success of their students as much as parents do. He congratulated the teachers who taught the degree holders and medal winners. The governor also praised the performance of KEMU Vice Chancellor Professor Khalid Masood Gondal and faculty members. He announced a cash prize of Rs 100,000 to the best graduate of 2017 Sarah Arif. Health Minister Professor Yasmin Rashid in her address proudly said that this convocation reminded “me of 15 years I spent in this institution and I enjoyed teaching the students of KEMU. You people are a priceless asset for the nation and we need you. When the responsibility of the Health Ministry was bestowed on me, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that, ‘Health of the nation is very near and dear to his heart’”. VC Gondal welcomed all the guests and congratulated the students and their parents. He hoped that students will promote the high standard set by their predecessors of “this esteemed institution and they must pay back to this nation by serving with the best of their abilities to the ailing humanity. They will also enlighten the name of the alma mater and the country”. Gondal gave a cheque of Rs 50,000 to the best all-rounder graduate 2017 Sarah Arif. At the end of the convocation, the vice chancellor presented the first copy of the book on KEMU’s history to Sarwar. The elevation of the university from a medical school established in 1860 to a medical university and other major achievements are highlighted in the history book with historical references. On the occasion, Health Secretary Saqib Zafar, Higher Education Commission Chairman Professor Niazamuddin, University of Health Sciences VC Javed Akram, Fatima Jinnah Medical University VC Professor Aamer Zaman Khan, Services Institute of Medical Sciences Principal Professor Mahmood Ayaz, Ameeruddin Medical College Principal Professor Muhammad Tayyab, KEMU former principals Professor Khawaja Sadiq Hussain, Professor Mahmood Ali Malik, Professor Ejaz Ahsan and KEMU former VCs Professor Zafarullah Khan, Professor Qazi Muhammad Saeed along with senior professors belonging to various medical institutes also participated in the convocation. Published in Daily Times, November 24th 2018.