LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Gillani on Friday said that women education is the easiest route to the development of any nation.
Addressing as the chief guest at the 14th convocation of the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU), he said that the students’ success was the result of their hard work for which the credit also goes to their teachers and parents.
Raza said that the Punjab government is determined to promote education and has therefore doubled the amount of budget for the education sector.
“The young generation is a precious asset and the hope for a bright future of the country. Pakistani women are extremely talented and play an important role in medical, engineering, education, health and other sectors of national development and the nation is proud of its daughters,” said the minister.
The event was also attended by Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Nizamuddin, ex-vice chancellors, senior faculty members and prominent alumni of the varsity.
As many as 3,964 students who passed their BS, B.Ed., BFA, B.Com, BBA., BPA, BE, Pharm-D, MA, M.Sc., MS/M.Phil. and PhD will be receiving their degrees, rolls of honour and gold medals in the two-day long convocation.
The Controller of Examinations Prof Dr Tahira Aziz Mughal at the convocation said that as per the instructions of Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi, opening day of the convocation was allocated for the students belonging to the faculties of natural sciences, management/administrative sciences, engineering and technology, and the Institute of Pharmacy.
The second day (Saturday) is reserved for the students of the faculty of humanities and social sciences, the Institute of Education, the Institute of Languages and Culture and the Institute of Visual Arts and Design, while the students of PhD will be there at the event on both days, he added.
The university at the first day of the convocation also conferred awards on alumni who have made significant contributions to the national development.
Minister for higher education congratulated fresh graduates and lauded the vice chancellor’s performance, saying that the LCWU has grown rapidly under her supervision. He said that the future of Pakistan is in safe hands of the youngsters who are making progress in various fields. He pointed out that the LCWU is striving to promote quality education among young girls and its role in grooming young ladies speaks of its commitment towards women empowerment.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Uzma Qureshi informed the minister that the Lahore College for Women University is on its path to become one of the top ranking universities in the world through its Vision 2020 and a landmark five-year strategic plan. She also said that six international conferences were organised by the LCWU last year.
Dr Uzma asked the parents to encourage and fully support their daughters to take up careers and become economically empowered.
The vice chancellor also pointed out that underprivileged students are receiving specified and need-based scholarships at the LCWU without discrimination.
“We are making higher education accessible to students from all walks of life,” she said.
“LCWU is a leading teaching and research university, and is a hub of academic excellence that produces highly-skilled, professionally empowered and well-groomed women to make a positive difference in the socio-economic development of Pakistan,” said Dr Uzma while adding that the student enrolment has increased tremendously during this period.
The main focus of the LCWU is strengthening of its academic departments and resources. Currently, the university is offering 4-year BS programmes in 39 departments, 5-year degree programmes in 2 departments (Pharm-D and BS architecture programs), 2-year MS/MPhil programmes in 27 departments, and Ph.Ds in 17 departments.