KARACHI, March 18: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad has urged academicians and students to play their role in promoting national integration and harmony.

He was speaking as chief guest at a gathering of successful students of Intermediate examinations 2001 and their parents, college principals, teachers and other dignitaries at a Gold Medal Award Ceremony of the Board of Intermediate Education, Karachi, on Tuesday.

Dr Ibad said that apart from their day-to-day assignments, teachers and students should work for promoting an environment of love in the country. “You must work for the spread of message of national integration and harmony in addition to your daily duties, as it would be a great service to the country,” he remarked.

He appreciated the candidates who passed the Intermediate annual examinations 2001 with flying colours, securing top positions. He advised the students to do away with the culture of easy-going and believe in hard work as it was the only way to a lasting achievement.

He urged parents to judge the aptitude of their wards before ascertaining their careers. He asked the Board officials to ensure more fairness in the conduct of examinations, computerize their working and declare results on time.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Board, Prof Syed Iftikhar Zaidi, praised the efforts of college teachers and principals and urged them to continue their good work for betterment of educational system in the country. The Secretary of the Board, Prof Abdul Zaheer Paras, also spoke.

The governor, who is also the controlling authority of the Board, announced cash prizes for the top position-holders, ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs20,000 each, while Rs25,000 each for colleges having produced such students.

The first three position-holders of different faculties were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals and Rs5,000, Rs3,000 and Rs2,000, respectively. Shields were also presented to the colleges for their meritorious academic performance in the HSC, PTC and CT examinations 2001.

Dr Ibad, along with chairman, controller and other officials of the Board, gave away the medals, cash awards and merit certificates to the position-holders.

The names of the award recipients are as follows:

Gold medals and merit certificates: Maria Maqbool, Khadija Mohammad, Zainab Azfar Jafri, Syed Nigar Zaidi, Asna Naureen, Salma Naureen, Salma and Rabia Mahmood.

Silver medals and merit certificates: Mehwish Fateh Hasni, Sadia Akhtar, Sameen Bibi, Sadaf Jabbar, Sabeen Waqar, Saima, Syed Adeel Ahmad and Syeda Mahreen.

Bronze medals and merit certificates: Rabeeya Saeed, Mohammad Shakir Hussain (absent), Sana Aziz Khan, Bushra Tariq, Syeda Sitwat Hasan, Shamoona Aleem and Sana Moin Ahmad.