BAHAWALPUR: President Mamnoon Hussain has urged the student to demonstrate patience and support the government in its efforts for the economic progress, saying they are hope for the country and can change its destiny.

He was addressing the 7th convocation of the Islamia University Bahawalpur (IUB) at its Baghdadul Jadid Campus on Friday.

The president said the government was giving top priority to the quality education and it was working hard to achieve the economic prosperity in the country. He said the economic corridor being built with the assistance of China would prove a key to Pakistan’s bright future and it would give an outstanding status to the country in the region.

Mr Hussain said all the universities should prepare themselves to meet the future challenges. Recalling the IUB’s historic background, he said the university should play its positive role in the educational progress of the country.

Punjab governor/chancellor Ch Muhammad Sarwar said the IUB was the custodian of Islamic legacy in the region and was best known due its research work in various fields. He said Malala Yousafzai and Arfa Karim could be torch-bearers for the youth.

Federal Minister of State for Education and Internal Affairs Baleeghur Rehman and Punjab Minister for Cooperatives Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar also spoke.

Earlier, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the IUB Prof Dr Rao Muhammad Afzal, in his welcome address, traced the history of the IUB.

As many as 623 graduates were awarded degrees besides 19 PhDs, 15 MPhil, 71 gold medals and 45 silver medals were also awarded.

President Mamnoon Hussain also inaugurated sports complex costing Rs75m at Baghdad campus and an educational training department to be built with Rs274m provided under a USAID program and it would be completed within 12 to 18 months.

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2014