RISALPUR, March 14: The first ever batch of four female aeronautical engineers were awarded Bachelor of Engineering degrees at the convocation ceremony of the Pakistan Air Force Academy’s College of Aeronautical Engineering (CAE) at Risalpur on Tuesday.

Addressing the ceremony chief guest Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Shujaat Hussain, Rector National University of Science and Technology (NUST) said, “self reliance is the key to our existence. Pakistan, in general, and PAF, in particular, is very much in need of indigenisation of aviation technology.”

He congratulated the cadets and advised them to work with full dedication and commitment to apply the acquired knowledge and struggle to obtain higher education and state of the art technology.

Lt-Gen (retd) Syed Shujaat Hussain, Rector National University of Science and Technology (NUST), awarded the degrees of bachelor of engineering to the cadets of 62 Engineering Course.

Rector’s Gold Medal for Best Project in Aerospace Engineering was awarded to a team comprising Nust Cadet Mehshan Javaid, Nust Cadet Usman Zamir Afridi and PIA Cadet Sohaib Ahmed.

Certificate of Merit for Best in Aerospace Vehicle Engineering Design was earned by the NUST Cadet Hassan Abbas Khawaja.

Rector’s Gold Medal for Best Project in Avionics Engineering was clinched by a team comprising Nust Cadet Abid Mushtaq and Nust Cadet Naveed Akhtar, whereas Certificate of Merit for Best in Avionics System was awarded to Cadet Shahid Ayaz.

President’s Gold Medal for Standing First in Avionics Engineering was awarded to Lady Aviation Cadet Saman Ahmed by securing cumulative GPA 3.98 out of 4, whereas President’s Gold Medal for Standing First in Aerospace Engineering was awarded to Nust Cadet Hassan Abbas Khawaja.

In another convocation ceremony held at the College of Flying Training, Prof (Dr) Haroon Rashid, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, awarded bachelor of science degrees to aviation cadets of No.118 general duty (pilot) and No.1 A&SD courses.

In his address the chief guest said, “the 21st Century will be characterised by the fully developed, knowledge-based society.

“Military education is always imbued with a distinctive colour. It is predominantly geared to pragmatic application of your learning in a pressed direction.”

Since the credibility of country’s armed forces have a direct bearing on the formulation of national security strategy, consequently, there is an increasing need for higher education in the armed forces.

It holds good for the practical as well as broad based academic knowledge. The tremendous advancement in the field of aviation further emphasises on the need to acquiring knowledge by the young aviators, which in turn would enable them to handle the latest technology with more confidence”, the vice-chancellor said.

Aviation Cadet Squadron Under Officer Osama Tasawar received the Asghar Hussain Trophy for overall best performance in academics.

Aviation Cadet Squadron Under Officer Khurram Ikram won the “Best Performance Trophy in Aero Science Subjects”. Best performance trophy in Humanities was also won by Aviation Cadet Squadron Under Officer Osama Tasawar.

Both ceremonies were attended by Air Officer Commanding Academy, Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Hassan, Senior Military and civil officials, local dignitaries and parents of passing out cadets.