KARACHI, Dec 18: As many as 223 graduates were conferred degrees of business administration, computer science and information technology at the 3rd convocation of PAF-Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology (PAF-KIET) on Saturday night. Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro was the chief guest, who also awarded gold medals to the distinguished students, while Air Marshal Azim Daudpota, the chairman of the board of governors of PAF-KIET delivered the keynote address.

A total of 38 students were conferred degrees in absentia. A maximum, 141 degrees, were given to the students of the College of Computer Science, including 109 in BCS, BCS (Hons) and BS (Computer Science). Of the remaining degrees, 88 were awarded to the students of MBA, 32 to the students of BBA, BBA (Hons) and BBA (4-year) programmes.

The convocation proceedings were witnessed by a number of corporate dignitaries, PAF leadership, graduating students, parents and faculty. Two of the graduates, Aisha Siddiqui (BS) and Afrah Jamal (BCS Hons) delivered the valedictory speeches.

Dr Khuhro told the passing graduates that they were goal-oriented young men and women, who had achieved significant academic and intellectual success in life and now fully equipped to take up the challenges of the professional and practical lives.

The glow on your youthful faces augurs well for a bright, progressive, enlightened and prosperous Pakistan, she added, saying that the presence of graduates was a “dazzling display of our future and gladdened our hearts and souls.

The minister praised the role of the KIET in meeting the challenging demands of higher education and promoting competitions among its students. She said that Pakistan was a developing state beset by daunting demons of poverty, over population and unemployment and the only way to defeat those debilitating factors was to have a dynamic, energetic cadre of entrepreneurs and enthusiastic, patriotic men and women who should lead the nation to strength and stability.

In his keynote address, Air Marshal Daudpota said that graduates should careful in selection and maintenance of their aims of life and at the same time should have flexible approach.

He said that it was the educated class which could transform the society from abysmal under development to the path of glory, prosperity and well-being. He said that education was not only an economic instrument to earn bread but it must also bring about changes in our attitudes, values and thought process.

Air Commodore Khalid Hussain, the president of PAF-KIET said that the purpose behind setting up the institute was to produce enlightened citizens with strong moral and ethical values, which would help build a tolerant society rooted in the culture of Pakistan.

He said that the institute had planned to add specialities of Avionics Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Architecture to the undergraduate programmes of the College of Engineering of the institute.

The chancellor, Dr Izharul Hassan said that the institution had proved itself to be an epitome of academic and intellectual excellence, liberalism and futuristic pro-activism on the national educational horizon. We are not content with the substantial achievements of our institutions, we continually pursue excellence and are resolved to earn a yet tremendously higher reputation in the field in the years to come, he added.

As many as nine graduates were given gold and silver medals for their higher academic performances, they are as follows:

Gold medallists: Alifia Abbas Ali, Fahim Abbas, Saima Aziz Peerwani, Saad Parekh and Zeeshan Ahmad. Fahmeed Afzal was not present to receive his award.

Silver medallists: Basma Akbar, Farah Javed, Haji Furqan and Shazia Batool. Hassan Iftikhar was not present to receive his award.