Vice Chancellor University of Karachi Prof Dr Ajmal Khan formally requested the Governor Sindh to ensure immediate release of Rs9 billion for the construction of KU hospital, medical and dental college that was promised by former prime minister under Karachi package.
Governor Sindh Imran Ismail is also chancellor of the university and the matter was brought to his knowledge at the annual convocation of the university held at the KU's Valika Ground on Saturday.
The VC Dr Ajmal lamented that the matter was pending because Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) hadn't yet approved it. He said KU was suffering due to financial problems hence Governor, the representative of federation in the province, should take up the matter with the Centre.
As many as 1594 students personally received their degrees in various disciplines at the 29th Convocation. Another 3823 successful students not present there were also conferred degrees. As many as 5412 students completed their studies in various disciplines and 33 M.Phil and 123 PhD degrees were also conferred to the students. Two MS degrees and one MD degree were also awarded at the KU Convocation 2018.
As many as 284 students were recipients of M.Sc degrees, 269 B.Sc (H) degrees, 220 collected their M.A degrees, 174 BA (H), 135 Pharm.D, 127 BS program, 38 M.Com, 30 were recipients of MPA degrees, 27 MBA, 26 MCS, 24 BPA (H), 16 LLB, 12 MHRM, 11 B.Ed., 8 B.E., 7 each BS (CS) and MPP, 6 BS (SE), 5 BBA (H), 4 MLIS, 3 BLIS, one M.A (E&F) and one M.A.S degrees.
The KU has also awarded 177 gold medals to the top position holders during Convocation 2018. Syeda Durreshahwar Fatima of MSc Physiology clinched the top position and received a gold medal. The chief guest, Governor Sindh, Imran Ismail, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Karachi, distributed the gold medals among the top position holders of the faculties while deans awarded gold medals to other recipients.
Faiza Fateh Muhammad bagged overall first position in the entire Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; Hafsa Mansoor in Faculty of Education; Huma Anwar in Faculty of Islamic Studies, Syeda Rida Arif in Faculty of Law, Humaira in Faculty of Pharmacy, Syeda Durreshahwar Fatima in Faculty of Science; Fatima Ali (MBA) overall first position in Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences and Nimra Alavi (MPA) in Faculty of Management and Administrative Sciences were among the recipients of gold medals.
Meanwhile, Governor acknowledged that University of Karachi is one of the most prestigious universities in Pakistan. The past, present and future of Karachi University has been directly linked with the history of academic progression in the country.
He advised that students must have had a vision as it would lay the foundation of their lives and also necessary for growth in professional work. He also exhorted them to never lose hope in any stage of life whether related to jobs or anything else. He emphasised that youngsters keep complete faith in Almighty Allah and keep trying their best.
Imran Ismail suggested that students should think and dream big and they would get it with their dedication. He said governments spend a huge amount in education sector and students should realize this fact as they have to pay it back to the country.
The Governor Sindh Imran Ismail announced that the federal government would complete Karachi University Hospital project under Public-Private Partnership. He said he would talk to Prime Minister Imran Khan to increase the grants for the University of Karachi.
He said that during last 71 years, the country had gone through many ups and downs. He said that despite geographical constraints and limited resources, Pakistan made the world acknowledge her through constant efforts, education and research work and determination. He noted that Pakistan is part of the third world, but it has been blessed with skilled manpower.
He said great minds are the biggest strength and in the course of transforming these minds into experts, our universities particularly Karachi University has played a huge role. This aspect of the university gives it a unique standing amongst other universities of Pakistan.
The Governor urged the students they must keep in mind in their practical life that this country came into being after huge sacrifices and its foundation is laid with the sacred blood of great martyrs.
"The ideology of this country is rooted in the state of Medina and in it the concept of a welfare state," he said, adding that the ancestors handed over Pakistan to us on the condition that we present ourselves in the world as Pakistanis with immense pride.
He urged students to take this country to new heights of success as envisioned by Allama Dr Muhammad Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. He said, no matter, which career they choose but they must give that their heart and soul and then success would be theirs.
"For years, Pakistan has been dealing with the curse of corruption. We need youngsters like you, to make this land corruption-free," he said, adding that he firmly believed every student who is a part of this convocation would contribute in making Pakistan better and brighter with each passing day.
Imran Ismail said teachers are the real face of any academic institution and universities are known by the teachers it posses. "Every teacher is highly respectable for me and it is my wish that the teachers of Karachi University work hard to bring it in the list of the world's most prestigious universities," he said.
Earlier, the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan congratulated the graduates and degree-recipients. He appreciated their teachers, parents and guardians for their efforts and affection that have led them to the day and wished them success in future.
He said the convocation was organised after a gap of only 11 months that indicated they are able to clear backlog in results awarding degrees the same year in which students have graduated. He commended support and cooperation of esteemed faculty members for their efforts and support without which it was not possible.
KU VC said they were incessantly upgrading curricula with current knowledge and societal needs and challenges and national and international conferences, workshops, seminars, video and extension lectures are regularly organized in the university to further strengthen academic activities.
"Karachi University is a place where knowledge is created and dispensed. It has been in the forefront in so doing for the last 66 years," he said. Dr Ajmal expressed hope to create an atmosphere where students feel free to enhance knowledge by frequent questions.
"After they reach a level of curiosity, we teach them how to answer those questions. The skill that we provide lead to enhancement of not only their ideas but to create new knowledge," he said, adding that the country can be made one of the most developed nations in the world through such erudite and wise students.
He said the KU would soon start ERP system in the Campus. He hoped to achieve complete paper-free admissions, examinations, HR, results, students' life cycle, accounts, library, procurements, etc, within two years. Dr Ajmal Khan thanked Sardar Yasin Malik who had begun constructing a modern school for the children of KU employees.
"In spite of severe financial crisis, rupees 34.5 million has been distributed in head of dean's research grant," he said, adding that the University has received first instalment of Rs520 million approved by the Sind government to improve the KU water and sewerage system.
He said Sindh CM Murad Shah released Rs477 million to help in recurring expenses and the Higher Education Commission provided funds amounting Rs1.76 billion. He said selection boards are being held regularly. He said KU would make long-awaited plan for the new ads.
"Our online admission policy has been a great success and after learning from the last years' mistakes we have improved our system by involving five major banks to collect fee for the students wherever their branches exist," he said, noting that admissions are now progressing with minimal hitches. He said KU would continue to follow the new tradition of providing both ID card and enrolment card immediately after admissions.
He said the KU had documented 800 research papers in the impact factor journals from the Science and Pharmacy faculty while about 400 papers were published from arts and other faculties and if papers published in HEC-approved and other journals are included then total publication for the last would make it more than 2000 papers.
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