KARACHI: Amidst loud claps and congratulatory messages being conveyed from their loved ones who were in attendance on their big day, over 900 students of the Institute of Business Management (IoBM) received their degrees at its 19th convocation held on the Korangi Creek campus on Saturday.

This year gold medals were awarded to 11 students, including six girls.

Dressed in blue and beige robes, students were all smiles as they waited for their turn to come up on the stage and receive their degrees. Among them was Amna Raheel in wheelchair who received her bachelor’s of science degree in commerce. Despite suffering from a congenital disorder, called muscular dystrophy, the young woman is currently doing an internship in the private sector. “It was tough but I am very fortunate that I had the support of my family and teachers throughout,” she said.

“I couldn’t take stress on my body that’s why I took six years to complete a four-year programme,” she explained, while expecting better job prospects following her graduation.

While delivering the valedictory speech, Kashmala Riaz, the recipient of S.H.Hashmi Memorial Gold Medal in BBA (Honours), said she would make the best use of her education and skills she acquired at the institution.

On her future plans, she said: “I plan to appear in the civil service exams. Besides, as an entrepreneur, I intend to expand my confectionery business that I have started on a small-scale with my sister.

“I will advise students to focus on studies and show commitment. If you take an initiative, believe in yourself and work with devotion. Don’t blame others for your failures,” she added.

Mohammad Kashif Amin, a federal government employee with the ministry of industry and production, completed his education at the IoBM through the university’s weekend programme and received the Tabba Foundation Gold Medal on completing an MBA in industrial management.

“It was tough managing both job and studies. But I kept my life disciplined, performed my work on time and took up tasks on a daily basis,” he said when asked how he acquired excellence in the studies without quitting job.

Other gold medallist were: Mohammad Ammad Afzal, Kiran Nadeem, Marina Arif, Mohammad Noman Ovais, Huma Nasir, Basit Saleem, Merym Saudagar, Shezza Razzaque Khan and Shahzad Ali.

Congratulating students and their parents, Sindh Education and Literacy Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, who was the chief guest, appreciated the fact that the institute had introduced an outreach engineering programme for less privileged students from districts of Tharparkar, Umerkot, Badin, Thatta and Sujawal.

Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, chief executive officer/president Habib Metropolitan Bank Sirajuddin Aziz and IoBM chancellor Najmuddin Sheikh also spoke.

Published in Dawn December 11th, 2016