STAFF REPORT
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, addressed the annual convocation of the University of Engineering Peshawar, emphasizing his commitment to making public sector universities self-sufficient and promoting education in the province.
The ceremony, held yesterday in the Convocation Hall of the University of Peshawar, awarded degrees to 550 students who graduated in the academic year 2023-24, including B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in engineering and non-engineering fields.
Chief Minister Gandapur, as the special guest of the event, distributed degrees and gold medals to the graduates.
He congratulated the successful students and praised UET Peshawar for integrating new programs that focus on modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity within its curriculum.
During his speech, he acknowledged the challenges that universities face, particularly regarding pension issues, stating that the government has managed to reduce pension liabilities from Rs 75 billion to Rs 25 billion, with plans to completely address these by the end of the year.
Gandapur reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to making universities self-sufficient.
He highlighted that the government has thus far allocated Rs 550 million in scholarships to students, with intentions to increase funding to facilitate free education, particularly for female students.
He encouraged graduates to not only seek traditional jobs but to also pursue technology-based businesses and startups to create their own employment opportunities.
He emphasized that the future of Pakistan’s economy relies on research, innovation, and local solution-based startups.
In his address, Prof. Dr. Qaiser Ali, Vice Chancellor of UET Peshawar, expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Gandapur, the Provincial Minister for Higher Education, HEC, and other notable guests.
He congratulated the graduates and their families for their significant achievements, noting that since UET Peshawar’s establishment in 1952, 25,800 graduates have held prominent positions both nationally and internationally.
He asserted that while government support is vital for any university, UET Peshawar has made considerable strides toward financial stability, introduced new programs aligned with market needs, focused on energy conservation, and taken steps to effectively utilize human resources.
After the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor presented university shields to Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the Provincial Minister for Higher Education of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Mina Khan Afridi.
