SWABI: Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that breakthroughs in the field of science and technology can change every aspect of Pakistan’s economy.

He stated this while addressing the convocation of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology here on Tuesday as the chief guest.

Degrees were awarded to a total of 495 students.

The graduating students included BS, MS and PhD scholars, who completed their education in different disciplines of engineering and management sciences.

Gives away degrees to students at GIKI convocation

Among the graduating students, 415 were BS, 68 MS and 12 PhD scholars.

Mr Kundi said that after initiatives such as digital skills training programme, numerous opportunities awaited competent graduates in the freelancing market at the national and international levels. “We are on the cusp of the fifth industrial revolution, where technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning are reshaping industries, and we desperately need to adapt to these developments to achieve our economic goals.”

The governor said the rapidly changing world faced challenges like climate change, food shortages, and energy crisis. “While dealing with these issues, there is a need to bring innovation in the field of science and technology.”

He said: “If you have advanced problem-solving skills, you can contribute to saving mankind from these problems.”

“At present, Pakistan is at a critical crossroads as it faces the biggest challenge of economic development,” he said, adding with the advent of digital tools and online learning platforms, the education landscape had changed, ‘and we have to ensure that none of our youth is left behind in the field of contemporary education’.

The governor lauded the tremendous services of GIK Institute’s founder, late Ghulam Ishaq Khan, while telling the graduating students that they were very lucky to have acquired contemporary engineering education in various disciplines from a centre of excellence like GIK Institute, which enjoys a unique place among seats of higher education in the country.

Lauding the success of the graduating students, he said: “This convocation is the beginning of your journey. I congratulate you all from the bottom of my heart and hope your future is filled with success.”

KILLED: A drug dealer was killed and a policeman was injured during an encounter here on Monday night, DSP Zaida Jawad Khan said on Tuesday.

He said the police raided the hideout of a drug dealer in Zaida city on a tip-off, but he started firing on the police party. “The cops retaliated to the fire, and an exchange of fire ensued, in which the outlaw, Yasir Khan, was killed. A constable, Manzoor was seriously injured,” he said.

The injured official was shifted to Bacha Khan Teaching Hospital, Shahmansoor.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024