18th convocation of GIK Institute: 343 students awarded degrees in engineering disciplines

343 students have graduated from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology Topi, district Swabi in different disciplines of engineering education and degrees were conferred on them in the eighteenth convocation here on Tuesday.
Mohammad Baligh-ur-Rehman, minister of state for education, trainings and standards in higher education was chief guest on the occasion. The convocation was attended by academia, parents of the students, official of various departments and politicians of different political parties. The minister conferred degrees on successful candidates and awarded gold medals to those who stood academically outstanding in their respective faculties.
Addressing on the occasion, the minister said that the age-old ideas of money and commodity economy have been superseded by the concept of knowledge economy and if Pakistan is to survive as an honourable member of the world community, we will have to keep pace with the rapidly advancing world, updating our knowledge continuously and moulding it according to the requirements of the country. "The secret of success in the competitive 21st century world lies in acquiring, generating, accumulating, sharing, and using knowledge for development and progress," he said.
The minister said that in this scenario the role of engineers has become critical. Pakistan now needs a new type of engineers who have the capacity to accept the challenge, the dedication to pursue high goal, ability to be innovative and the professional competence to play the role of trouble shooters and problem solvers. "The nation expects that intuitions like the GIK Institute will play their role in producing the professionals who, by their hard work and ingenuity, can turn Pakistan into a highly industrialised and prosperous country," he said.
Engr. Shamsul Mulk, president of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology paid rich tributes to former President of Pakistan and founder of GIK Institute, Ghulam Ishaq Khan. "The institute was very dear him. The foundations were laid by him and the dream was turned into reality under his meticulous planning and supervision," he said.
Shamsul Mulk who also remained Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister said that late Ghulam Ishaq Khan worked for the development and progress of this institution as long as he lived. "He left a glorious legacy for the nation," he said. Jehangir Bashar, Rector of the Institute said that we are living in extremely troubled times. That reminds me of another difficult time, at independence, when the Quaid-i-Azam gave this advice. "My message to all of you is of hope, courage and confidence. Let us mobilise all our resources in a systematic and organized way and tackle the grave issues that confront us, with grim determination and discipline, worthy of a great nation."
Professor Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Pro-Rector (academic) spoke in detail about collaboration of the GIK Institute with different varsities at national and international level. The institute continues research activities and initiated various projects, he said. "The GIK Institute voyage of excellence is continued and in future we will bring more glories to the nation," he said.
Those who received PhD degrees were; Shah Nawaz, Arshad Hussain, Mirza Nadeem Baig, Nabi Bakhsh, Mustasim Billah Bhatty, Muhammad Ishaq, Fazal Wahab, Muhammad Tahir and Dil Nawaz Khan. Quaid-i-Azam Medal was awarded to Salman Bilal Qazi and Ghulam Ishaq Khan Medal to Nouman Khan. Those who got the faculty based gold medals were; Sherjeel Sikander, Nouman Zeb, Nouman Khan, Raja Arslan Sajid, Muhammad Mudasser Khan and Muhammad Azees Sadiq.