557 Luminites conferred degrees

The Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) held its 23rd convocation at Syed Maratib Ali Sports Complex on Saturday. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Dr Shahid H Kardar graced the occasion as chief guest. Addressing the ceremony, he advised the younger generation to take risks and make a mark in society. Kardar observed that those people, who had a passion and determination to pursue their dreams and take on the world, rather than simply play safe, would be great achievers. LUMS celebrated the graduation of 567 students and honoured outstanding pupils with awards and medals for excellence in academics. Degrees were conferred upon graduates and National Management Foundation (NMF) medals were awarded to graduates securing top positions in various programmes. LUMS Rector Abdul Razzaq Dawood and Vice-Chancellor (VC) Ahmed Jan Durrani were also present on the occasion.
“You have a wonderful start to life and owe this to yourself and let me use a hackneyed term, your country, which gave your parents the ability to give you this start. Now, it’s time to give back. This country and its less fortunate people need you,” the SBP governor said. He advised the graduating students, “Do not be daunted by risk or the fear of failure–it is better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. And do not become jaded like people of my generation–instead, be optimistic and challenge conventional thinking.” Kardar noted that finance and capital were not a constraint. “It is the limitations of our imagination and willingness to take a risk. Of course, you need a lucky break but a brilliant idea will invariably get one”, he said.
The SBP governor expressed hope that LUMS graduates would remain in Pakistan to serve their country. “This may not seem very exciting at this point, but once you get a better sense of the economic and political challenges facing the developed world in the next 18 months, Pakistan will end up looking really good”, he added. Earlier, the LUMS Annual Graduate Night Dinner was held on Friday, where graduates who achieved distinctions in their respective fields of study, were awarded medals. Awards for the Dean’s Honour List, NMF Medals and company-sponsored medals were conferred upon 91 graduating students.
LUMS VC Ahmed Jan Durrani said that LUMS has transformed over the years and also highlighted the varsity’s achievements during his tenure. Talal Khan, student of the National Outreach Programme (NOP) at LUMS, attained the overall first position in BS Accounting and Finance, and secured a gold medal.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Talal thanked the LUMS administration who has always taken care of underprivileged students. He said that he is planning to get admission in the master’s programme and dedicated his success to his parents.
The LUMS management also hailed the NOPS scholar and said that the programme has been providing a platform for students from underprivileged areas of the country to attain higher
education.