SWABI: President Dr Arif Alvi has said Pakistan can achieve progress and prosperity by investing in human resource development.

Speaking at the 26th convocation of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology held in Top here on Tuesday, he said there was a lot of scope for development of information technology, agriculture and science and technology in Pakistan. He asked the students to use their knowledge for serving humanity and the country’s development.

President Alvi conferred degrees on a total of 487 students, including 430 BS and 47 MS graduates and 10 PhDs.

He said Pakistani nation had the capability to tackle challenges head-on if the leadership took correct decisions at this critical juncture of the country’s history.

President Alvi, who is the chancellor of GIKI, said Pakistani nation also successfully coped with the October 2005 earthquake by reaching out to those in need. “Another extraordinary feat displayed by the nation was tackling the Covid-19 pandemic at a time when it had shaken the entire world.

Confers degrees on students at 26th GIKI convocation

“We accommodated four million Afghan refugees,” he said, adding Afghans felt comfortable in Pakistan.

Dr Alvi said Pakistan had also defeated terrorism. “We are proud of all these achievements and the bravery and courage displayed by the nation in challenging times,” he said.

President Alvi said only natural resources could not guarantee economic prosperity and military supremacy. “It is the manpower and contemporary education that help a country become economically prosperous, politically strong and militarily powerful.”

He paid tributes to former president, late Ghulam Ishaq Khan for establishing an institute that had helped Pakistan reduce its dependence on foreign expertise and imported technology. “Renowned scientist, late Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan also played a role in making the institute as one of the world’s finest science and engineering colleges,” he elaborated.

Shakil Durrani, Executive Director of Society for Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan, the GIKI’s parent body, said the institute had been contributing to building the country’s future.

Prof Fazal Ahmed Khalid, GIKI’s Rector, said the institute was committed to providing a rich and research-based educational experience through outcome-based learning.

Dr Wasim Ahmad Khan, GIKI’s Pro-Rector Academics, said the institute was dedicating more than 20 per cent of its revenue each year to financially help the deserving students.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2022