KARACHI: Ziauddin University awarded 582 degrees to graduating students for various disciplines at the 18th convocation held at the Family Park adjacent to the university.

A total of 582 students were conferred degrees in various disciplines, including MBBS, Pharm D, dentistry, audiology and speech language therapy, biomedical engineering, medical technology, doctor of physical therapy, accelerated doctor of physical therapy, accelerated doctor of occupational therapy, nursing, communication and media sciences, BEd (Hons) while three PhDs and 26 MPhil degrees were also awarded.

Addressing the convocation, chief guest chancellor of Ziauddin University Dr Asim Hussain congratulated the graduating students.

He acknowledged their success by stating “this day marks a transitional moment of your life. The hard work you have put in gives me the sense of achievement, the years and time spent in Ziauddin University now make you look into the future and discover the new challenges of life and address them.”

He also praised the efforts of students, their parents and faculty of Ziauddin University for training students at par with international standards.

Dr Asim Hussain said: “We are adding cutting edge tools, digital technology in education in all faculties of Ziauddin University. The recent example is the addition of Anatomage, the 3D dissection system for our anatomy department. We are also in the process of installing a Cyclotron which will produce a broad array of diagnostic and therapeutic isotopes not available elsewhere. We are putting up a genetic and molecular lab as well with next generation sequencing instruments for both diagnostic and research purposes. These two things will be the first in any Pakistani university.

“Ziauddin University is going to start at least one semester in every faculty to teach students the morals and principles of life.”

Presenting tribute to the former vice chancellor Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui, Dr Asim said “it is a moment of [pride] for us to appoint Dr Pirzada Qasim as an emeritus professor of Ziauddin University. I appreciate the nine years of service tenure of Prof Pirzada.”

The newly-appointed VC of Ziauddin University, Prof Dr Syed Irfan Hyder, congratulated the young graduates.

Dr Nida Hussain, pro-chancellor Ziauddin University, awarded Sir Ziauddin Gold Medals to the top nine position holders for their exemplary academic performance during their tenure at the university.

The medal recipients included Manisha Devi (MBBS), Marium Majid (Pharm D), Itrat Fatima Shah (dentistry), Amna Bokhari (audiology and speech language therapy), Amal Fatima (biomedical engineering), Munira Mustafa (medical technology), Misbah (physical therapy), Syed Mohsin Ali (nursing) and Daniyal Abid Khatib (communication and media sciences).

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2021