CHINIOT: Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh on Sunday told graduates at the Fast National University Chiniot-Faisalabad Campus that Pakistan and South Korea have long exchanged development models, noting that both nations were once at similar economic levels.
He recalled that Pakistan’s five-year plans had served as a reference for South Korea’s Ministry of Education and Planning, creating a mutually beneficial learning curve.
The minister stressed that improving the quality of education—especially at the intermediate and higher levels—is imperative for national progress. Citing performance data from Karachi and other regions, he warned that without a solid 12-year foundation, the country’s development trajectory would stall. He pointed to Thailand’s emphasis on education as a case study in achieving economic stability.
Sheikh congratulated the graduating class and their parents for choosing FAST University, describing the Chiniot campus as a dream realized. He recounted how his family, friends and a private company had donated ten acres of land, a move once dismissed as unviable, but which now stands as a thriving hub of modern learning and regional development.
He urged the new graduates to leverage their skills in computer science and contemporary education to elevate Pakistan’s global standing, emphasising that collaboration between academia and the corporate sector will shape the nation’s cultural and economic future. To recognize outstanding achievement, the minister announced a Rs 1 million award for each gold-medallist and a similar amount for deserving students.
In his closing remarks, Sheikh extended his congratulations to the university administration, faculty, parents and all attendees, celebrating the successful convocation as a testament to the campus’s growing impact on the community and the country at large.