AKU Convocation Graduates 275 Doctors, Nurses and Teachers

PM Shaukat Aziz Announces Allotment of 500 Acres of Land for Purchase by AKU for its Faculty of Arts and Sciences

“I am privileged to be in this centre of excellence, which is an icon of quality education all over the world,” said His Excellency Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, amid thunderous applause during his address as the Chief Guest of the AKU Convocation 2005.

His Highness the Aga Khan, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and Chancellor of Aga Khan University (AKU), presided over AKU’s 18th Convocation ceremony on December 3, 2005. The ceremony was attended by the Governor and Chief Minister of Sindh, federal and provincial ministers, vice-chancellors, senior government and armed forces officials, diplomats, national and international academicians, donors, Chairman and Members of the University’s Board of Trustees, as well as faculty members, students and their parents.

(L to R) Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and Sindh Chief Minister Dr Ghulam Arbab Raheem stand for the national anthem.

 

The Prime Minister expressed his deepest gratitude to the Aga Khan for his contribution announced at the recent International Donors’ Conference held in Islamabad in November, 2005. Praising AKU’s planning, rehabilitation, educational and medical services for the quake victims, he observed, “The strong emphasis on community health education that forms part of learning at AKU, perhaps provides the students a distinct advantage in dealing with situations such as the one being faced by a large number of Pakistani citizens affected by this calamity.” Stressing the importance of investing in all educational disciplines, including social sciences, the Prime Minister announced an allotment of 500 acres of land for purchase by AKU for its upcoming Faculty of Arts and Sciences, an addition to the previously purchased 500 acres alloted by the Sindh Government in 2003.

Addressing the gathering, the Aga Khan reflected on the tragedy of the recent earthquake on October 8 in Kashmir and the NWFP, and emphasised the importance of civil society institutions such as AKU, in providing the rapid and effective response to those affected by the disaster. Despite these tragic circumstances, he praised the steadfastness and achievements of the new graduates. “We rejoice not only because you have become promising nurses, physicians, educators and researchers, but because at AKU you have also become educated men and women with expanded powers of reason and reflection,” he remarked.

(His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of AKU; Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman, AKU Board of Trustees; and AKU President Mr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, with the graduating students of AKU Medical College.

The Aga Khan observed that the earthquake relief work of AKU had been made possible by response teams notably in the realm of public health, established to create model health programmes and health surveillance systems on the grounds that have for many years been studied and tested. Secondly, he noted, the impact of AKU’s response was compounded because the University is part of AKDN. The Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) had, for several decades, been studying and working with mountain people and villages; the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service (AKPBS) was able to share its methodology for constructing temporary shelter and seismic-resistant construction; and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) helicopters provided the transportation of materials and evacuation of serious casualties.

In his speech, AKU President Mr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha lauded the commendable achievement of the graduates and noted that the University’s primary purpose is to develop the leaders of tomorrow, not only in Pakistan, but in many other countries of the Ummah and developing world. In keeping with this aim, the University has already grown to encompass ten teaching sites in seven countries of South Asia, Eastern Africa and Europe.

(HHis Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of AKU; Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman, AKU Board of Trustees; and AKU President Mr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, with the graduating class of AKU School of Nursing.

Every year AKU confers Distinguished University Awards to recognise outstanding persons whose achievements have had a significant impact on society and on the University. This year, the University presented the title of Professor Emeritus to Dr Paula Herberg, Former Associate Dean of AKU-School of Nursing, for her contribution to the nursing profession in Pakistan and other developing countries; and the University’s first Research Award to Dr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutta, Head of AKU’s Paediatrics Department, for his outstanding research in nutrition and vaccination and his remarkable role in the development of a research culture at AKU.

This year’s graduates included 19 international students from Belgium, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bangladesh, Zanzibar, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and USA. Dr Sameen Ahmed (MBBS, 2005) received the highest number of awards and the title of ‘Best Graduate of the Year’, while Ms Gulzar Azizuddin Noorani from the School of Nursing received the ‘Outstanding Graduate Award’. S. Rubina Zaidi, a graduate of MEd programme of AKU-Institute for
Educational Development, delivered the valedictory speech.

The University has so far graduated 3,684 doctors, school teachers, and nurses from Pakistan and overseas. Through its needs-blind policy and Educational Support Programme, AKU ensures that deserving students are granted admissions irrespective of their economic background. Forty-five per cent of AKU’s students receive some form of additional financial assistance through scholarships and loans. Since its inception, the University has disbursed US $1.126 million in financial assistance to students.