PESHAWAR: A variety of colourful events marked the golden jubilee celebrations of Jinnah College for Women, a leading college for female education in the province, on Wednesday.

The daylong celebrations began with an impressive display of physical training by students, which was followed by the cake-cutting ceremony at the college’s Safia Hassan Hall.

UoP vice chancellor Professor Mohammad Rasul Jan was the chief guest on the occasion, while Islamia College vice chancellor Professor Qibla Ayaz, JCW principal Professor Neelofar Zeb Arbab and scores of former students were also in attendance, said a news release issued by the University of Peshawar.

The students staged a drama on the misery of women in the country.

Through their acts, the performers called for end to women’s exploitation in the name of honour and customs like swara and vani.

They also highlighted Islam’s restriction on violence against women and orders for strict action against the violators.

The students declared women’s education as the real factor behind change and vowed to contribute to the society through their professionalism while proving themselves to be excellent mothers and wives at the same time.

A short documentary on the historical background and achievements of the college was also showed to the audience.

Addressing the ceremony, vice chancellor of the college Professor Mohammad Rasul Jan said the key to development lied in provision of quality education to youths, especially women, as they were the real ambassadors of change.

He said the college was known for quality education.

The vice chancellor said the college had achieved a lot over the past 50 years but had yet to do a lot more to sustain its glory.

He asked the principal to plan the launch of O and A level courses in the college.

Addressing the alumni of the college, the vice chancellor said former students should pay back to the educational institution by supporting poor students and introducing scholarship programme for them.

“For me, it is just like homecoming and a matter of great pride as a Jinnahian,” said first female surgeon of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Professor Mahmonera on the occasion.

She said admission to Jinnah College was a dream come true for her like other girls and that she felt at home on campus and studied with peace of mind.

Earlier, the principal said the college was opened in 1964 with 27 students and the number had risen to more than 1,700.

She said the college had been declared the best by the BISE, Peshawar and University of Peshawar for more than two decades.