Speaker National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza has termed investment in girl child education as imperative to ensure rapid progress of the country. She was addressing the oath taking and prize distribution ceremony at a girls college of Overseas Pakistanis Federation (OPF) here on Friday.
She called education lifeline for any developed country through which a nation could build its future, alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development. The country was faced with immense challenges, which could be overcome by uplifting and elevating the standard of education, she added. She advised the students to adopt good values, attitude and behaviour besides making efforts to excel at their studies.
She extended heartiest felicitation to the students who achieved excellence in their academic career and other co-curricular activities and lauded the untiring efforts of college principal and other staff members in maintaining the standard of quality education.
Fehmida announced that the students, who would secure good grades in matriculation, would be awarded 'Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Award.' Similarly Benazir Bhutto scholarships would be given to the brilliant students. The recipients of these awards and scholarships would be addressed as Benazir Bhutto scholars.
She also offered her support in establishing a girls hostel for the students of the college which would be named as Bukhtawar Hostel. OPF Girls College has been playing vital role in grooming, educating and training of the students for nearly two decades.
To run the student affairs, a student council is elected every year to inculcate organising abilities in the students. The students take part enthusiastically in election campaign every year and support their candidates.
In her welcome address, the Principal of the college highlighted the academic activities of the college. The college showed a remarkable progress and was able to start its degree programmes from 1996 in computer sciences and business administration.
She said that subsequently disciplines such as multimedia, fashion designing, and IT had been introduced. She praised the efforts of dedicated staff members of the faculty, who were helping and educating the students in their academic pursuits.
This college enabled the Overseas Pakistanis to educate their children especially girls keeping alive the spirit of Islamic culture and values. The students of the institute have acquired recognition at national level. The chief guest administered the oath taken by newly elected members of the Student Council and distributed badges among them. She also awarded prizes to students who won distinction.