KARACHI: Over 600 students were conferred degrees at the 4th convocation of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) held at the ground of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Sunday.

Officials said that 349 MBBS and 70 BDS students were among total 640 graduates who attended the convocation.

Speaking on the occasion as chief guest, Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori asked the students to respect and take good care of their parents and teachers who helped them achieve this success.

“There is a lot of talent in Pakistan and Pakistani youth are making the country proud all over the world. The youth should consider Pakistan as their home and decorate it like their drawing room,” he said.

In his speech, Universities and Boards Minister Ismail Rahoo urged the graduates to be true to their motherland and serve humanity with passion.

He spoke of the provincial government’s efforts in the education sector, while pledging his support for educational projects in the province.

JSMU Vice Chancellor Prof Amjad Siraj Memon shed light on the milestones the university had achieved in recent years and informed the audience that JSMU was declared the best among the medical universities of Sindh in the UK’s Times Higher Education Impact Ranking for 2022.

“We are working on sustainable strategies and programmes to provide modern and relevant health education in the province of Sindh,” the vice chancellor said.

Prof Memon also spoke about the various projects the university was currently working on. The list included establishment of a boys’ medical college, a school of nursing and college of physical therapy and acquisition of Valika Hospital of the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) in Landhi.

Talking about the Jinnah Sindh Medical City, he said the university needed space to expand the current facilities including the hostels.

Top achievers get 40 medals

Forty medals awarded to the top achievers of 2020 and 2021 batches.

Saif Aslam Khan, a BDS (bachelor of dental surgery) student, received four medals for his exceptional performance.

The best graduate for MBBS 2020 was Aliza Zakaria and Amna Khan for MBBS 2021. Aleene Saleem was the best graduate of BDS year 2020 and Saif Aslam Khan for year 2021.

Alina Rizvi and Ramsha Riaz received the best graduate title in the Pharm D discipline for years 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Alyna Hafeez secured gold medal for honours in basic medical sciences for 2020 and Faraz Hassan Kazmi for 2021.

Sehrish Aijaz secured a gold medal for honours in basic dental sciences for 2020 and Saif Aslam Khan for 2021 year.

Alyna Hafeez (MBBS year 2020), Muhammad Ali (MBBS year 2021), Syeda Farwa Abbas (BDS year 2020), Saif Aslam Khan (BDS year 2021), Sheikh Muhammad Saad (Pharm D year 2020) and Anusha Shafi (Pharm D year 2021) received gold medals for securing first positions.

Other gold medal recipients were: Madiha Sattar (MBBS year 2020), Muhammad Usman Ghani (MBBS year 2021), Muhammad Ali (MBBS year 2021), Laiba Amin (BDS year 2020) and Saif Aslam Khan (BDS year 2021). In addition, Bronze and Silver medals were also given for securing the second and third positions in MBBS, BDS and Pharm D.

Eight certificates were distributed among the best graduates of MBA, EMBA, MHPE and MSPH disciplines.

Former director general of health, KMC Dr Birbal Genani and his daughter Sapna Kumari received degrees simultaneously in the convocation.

Liaquat University of Medical Sciences VC Dr Naushad Sheikh, JSMU Pro VC Prof Shahid Rasool, MPA Dr Lal Chand Ukrani, Dr Nighat Shah, Dr Nusrat Shah, Dr Anita Shah were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2022