KARACHI: Mothers wiped away tears of joy, fathers stood proud and the faculty clapped as 1,213 candidates — 1,131 Bachelor’s, 80 M. Engg / MCIT / MURP and two PhDs — received their degrees and certificates at the 23rd convocation of the NED University of Engineering & Technology here on Wednesday.

Earlier, while presenting the annual report, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Afzal Haque spoke about the university’s nine decades of producing engineers. “Founded in 1922 when the British administration was in need of civil engineers for the construction of the Sukkur Barrage, it was a modest college offering undergraduate civil engineering courses. But today it has transformed into an eminent university offering 27 undergraduate and 42 master’s and doctoral programmes,” he said.

“NED is not just producing quality engineers but architects, town planners, computer scientists, and professionals in applied sciences. During the current year, three new undergraduate programmes were launched in Textile Sciences, Management Sciences and Development Studies.”

Addressing the university’s Pro-Chancellor, Senior Minister for Education and Literacy, Government of Sindh, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and chief guest on the occasion Chairman of the Higher Education Commission Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, the VC said they were a public sector university, extending quality education to all those who satisfied the criteria of admission. “We welcome students from all strata of society who obtain merit and believe in hard work. By keeping a modest fee structure, we make all-out efforts to reach out to meritorious and talented young people. The university within its meagre resources extends assistance and scholarships to help needy students meet their educational expenses. It enthusiastically follows the philanthropists, alumni networks and available sources to help students acquire scholarships and bursaries of various kinds and its distinguished pool of faculty members walks the extra mile to connect with students for facilitating their cumulative needs,” he said.

“But while the university has managed to keep its expenditures very basic, the rising costs of various entities, inputs and services have cast a deep impact on its financial performance. Financial support received from the Sindh government and the Higher Education Commission has enabled this university to pay off its external loans, but there are still certain liabilities for which support from the provincial government and the HEC is indispensable. With the expansion of the student body, facilities and new departments and programmes, the burden is continuously rising.”

Meanwhile, HEC Chairman Prof Dr Mukhtar Ahmed in his speech said there were many issues in the country and education was the solution to all. “So, we have to invest in education. NED University has been through a trying time, but it is good to know that it is now coming out of it. We have some 163 public and private universities in Pakistan and many of them face problems, which the government shall solve,” he said.

To the faculty of NED, he said:”You are not just responsible for making fine engineers but you are also to make them good human beings. Today parents are too busy to do the same, so it falls on you.”

To the students, he said: “You are getting the fruit of your hard work today. Now you must look around you to see how you can help others and your country.”

Pro-Chancellor and Education Minister Khuhro in his speech said that he was pleased to see so many girls getting their engineering degrees. “When I was a student at DJ Science College during the 1960s, we knew of only one female engineer, the first woman engineer of Pakistan, Engr Asfiya Aleem, who is present here today. But now there are so many and they are also getting gold medals,” the minister said.

“You engineers are the builders of tomorrow’s Pakistan. Your VC only gives admission on merit. You also take care of that merit, which got you here. This convocation is a high time for you. When I was a young boy, we would be in awe of engineers and doctors because it took four to five years to get degrees in these professions. You will always be called NEDian now. So do your university proud, your teachers proud and your parents and country proud.”

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2015

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