Fauzia asks women to play role in country’s uplift

Begum Fauzia Gilani, wife of Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, on Wednesday urged women graduates to positively use their knowledge for the betterment of the society.
Addressing the 22nd convocation of Pakistan Air Force’s Bilquis College of Education for Women, Chaklala, Begum Gilani said the graduates could prove themselves as leaders not only within their own families and workplaces but also at national and international levels.
Begum Fauzia Gilani said the empowerment of a woman is not merely empowerment of an individual, but it gives strength to a family and ultimately a society.
She expressed satisfaction over the brilliant young women who showed outstanding results in academics and were awarded gold medals in their respective disciplines.She mentioned a quote of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as saying that “No nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women, participating side by side with men.”
Begum Fauzia Gilani was the chief guest on the occasion while Air Commodore (retd) Dr Ijaz Ahmad Malik, vice chancellor, Air University Islamabad, presided over the ceremony. Begum Shehla Tahir, wife of Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who is president of Pakistan Air Force Women Association (PAFWA), also attended the ceremony.
The chief guest awarded trophies, medals and crests to the position holders in various disciplines.
Ms Munazza Sadaf was given Quaid-e-Azam Trophy on being declared the best student of the BA course. The college crest for the year 2008-10 was won by Ms Zarah Anne Lorraine.
Air Commodre (Retd) Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Malik, vice chancellor, Air University, conferred the degrees on 802 students of MA Education, MEd, BA and BEd courses.
Earlier, Ms Kaukab Ara Nasir, principal, Bilquis College of Education for Women, presented the annual report of the college. The college was established in 1984. BCOE (W) is not only a top-ranking education college in the country but it is also one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Pakistan Air Force.