LARKANA: In total 89 students were awarded degrees, including 47 of bachelors and 42 of masters, in the disciplines of management and com­p­u­ter sciences at the 13th convo­cation of SZABIST held here on Friday.

Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) Prof Dr Aneela Atta Ur Rehman was chief guest at the event.

Addressing the students, she said: “The institution you [students] are graduating from is one of the finest educational institutions of this country that has prepared you exceptionally well.”

Calling Larkana the most important city of Sindh and Pakis­tan, she said it was the land of visio­nary leaders and martyrs who had dedicated themselves for the welfare of people.

Punctuating her speech with the quotes of Benazir Bhutto, she said Benazir had established the institution to further the cause of education in Pakistan. Terming the institute a “marvellous gift” from the Bhutto family to the youth of Larkana, she appreciated the services the institution has been rendering for the past two decades while maintaining its distinction in imparting cutting-edge knowledge by modern learning methods. It had been the frontrunner in promoting leadership skills and significantly contributed towards community development, she said.

She said the rigours of academic journey had prepared its students to face future challenges of the practical world. She asked them to be thankful to their parents who had supported them. She also lauded the efforts of capable faculty that had enabled the graduates to reach their destination.

Earlier, SZABIST president Shahnaz Wazir Ali welcomed the chief guest and participants to the convocation. She traced the history of SZABIST Larkana and disclosed that 600 students had graduated from the institution and currently 500 were enrolled.

Ninety per cent of graduates had been absorbed in jobs in different fields.

Gold medals were awarded to Ms Zobia Shaikh, Rakesh Kumar and Manju Talreja. A shield was presented to the chief guest.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2019