7th Convocation of the Islamic International University, Islamabad, (IIUI)

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s popularity rose a notch higher in the student community as he, in a generous mood, interacted with them after conferring doctorate degrees on graduates and decorating 34 of them with gold medals at the seventh convocation of the International Islamic University (IIU) on Sunday.

Employment opportunities were foremost in the mind of a fresh women graduate as she raised the question of availability of jobs after leaving the institution.

Prime Minister Gilani answered that jobs would become available in the market with the improvement in the law and order situation. ‘Jobs are linked with peace and tranquility,’ he said. There was an indication here that after things settled down in Swat and Malakand, and peace returned to the area, there would be a run on jobs.

The premier also implied that peace and job availability were the products of the constitutional governments and good governance.

Prime Minister Gilani also announced a grant of Rs450 million to build a students’ hostel at the International Islamic University (IIU). He also said he believed 100 per cent in the autonomy of the Higher Education Commission. ‘Health and education is government’s priority,’ he said, adding that after the US law providing $1.5 billion to Pakistan, more money would be made available to Pakistan, meaning that gradually the allocation to the education sector would increase to five per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). HEC Chairperson Shahnaz Wazir Ali was sitting beside him as he made the announcement.

The prime minister had a good word for the university’s new direction in setting up more departments and departments for study of science and technology as well as in setting up the Allama Iqbal Centre for Research and Dialogue, because ‘education is a religious duty, and it was an extension of change and progress.’

Prime Minister Gilani, in his speech, concluded that he wanted the IIU to develop into a great institution of learning which would serve students from all over the world.

IIU Rector Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik drew the prime minister’s attention to the university’s stride in making advancements. In this regard, he particularly mentioned the Iqbal Institute of Research and Dialogue, which had organised significant seminars with the participation of a number of eminent scholars such as Karen Armstrong, and others.

IIU President Anwar Husain Siddiqui pressed for autonomy for the Higher Education Commission as well as more funds to implement the 15 per cent raise in pay for the faculty as provided in the new budget.

He said the IIU was the largest university in northern Pakistan, with enrolment of 17,000 students, of which 1,500 are 47 countries, with 560 students from China.

As many as 2,285 students were awarded graduate degrees in the convocation ceremony.
Prime Minister Gilani conferred gold medals on Samina Yasmeen and Hafiz Mohammad Haroon (Arabic); Maria Sabir, Arooj Wais, Hina Mahmood, Mehwish Huma, Saeed Afzal, Syed Mohammad Ali Shah, and Altaf Ghafoor (basic and applied sciences); Mohammad Asad(engineering); Younis Hussain, Faiza Zafar and Sania Batool (economics); Mohammad Anas and Ayesha Quratul Ain (Islamic studies); Khola Majeed, Maryam Waqar Qazi and Aminullah Sahrai (literature); Mohammad Tajul Malook, Waheeduz Zaman and Ayesha Rashid Lone, Sidra al-Hassan, Sumayya Shaheen, Shadia Noor, Sara Shuja and Shahe Naveed (management sciences); Aneesa Khatoon, Tayyaba Anwar, Maqzia Hafeez, Rukhsana and Saira Urooj (social sciences); Asim Murtaza Cheema, Hafiz Mohammad Waqas and Nadia Khanam (Shariah and law).