ABBOTTABAD: Education should be used for character building and enhancing leadership qualities of students, said Lt-Gen (retd) Tariq Khan, while speaking as chief guest at the parent-day function at the Army Burn Hall College for Boys here on Monday.

A large number of parents and citizens attended the ceremony where students performed in a PT show, gymnastics, karate and other co-curricular activities, receiving applause from the audience.

Tariq Khan, who is an ex-Hallian, said the faculty had to take the challenge to produce stalwarts while students had to avail the best-ever learning facilities in the college to become an asset for the country.

He said the Burn Hall was a unique institution which had produced ‘the golden pearls’ as Hallian who excelled in every field of life.

Gen Tariq asked the college administration to leave no stone unturned in maintaining the pride and honour of the college by keeping up its objective ‘to what height can I not rise’.

College Principal Brig Wajid Qayyum Paracha said a grand reunion of the old boys of Burn Hall was planned in Jan 2017. He said the students had showed exemplary results in higher secondary and Cambridge level examinations. He said the students had won a bi-lingual contest held in different parts of the country.

He said this year the Hallian decided to organise the event in the open air after about 11 years to send a message that the college was all set to reinvigorate all facets of education and training to help students develop balanced personalities.

The Chief of Army Staff Overall Championship Trophy was awarded to Sher Khan Shaheed House, while Chief of Army Staff Gold Medal went to Sajawal Sharif for getting first position in FSc second year examination; Chairman Board of Governor’s Gold Medal was given to Mohammad Hamza Abdullah Khan on attaining first position in matriculation exam. The student was also awarded Capt Akash Shaheed Award cash prize.

Dr Waqarullah Memorial Sports Trophy was won by Syed Ahmed Shaheed House and Brig AB Malik Co-Curricular Trophy went to Shah Ismail Shaheed House.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2016