islamabad - President Mamnoon Hussain yesterday said that the anti-terror operation would continue in Karachi and elsewhere till elimination of the last terrorist from the country’s soil and establishment of rule of law.
Addressing the 12th Convocation of Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology here at Convention Centre, the President said that certain deranged persons who consider themselves as champions of Islam are targeting innocent people, and they need to be brought to justice.
Vice Chancellor of Sarhad University Dr Salimur Rehman presented welcome address while President of the University Riaz Karim, faculty members and parents of the students attended the function.
President Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan was going to step into a new era of industrial, economic and technological development. The nation would achieve progress and prosperity if it fulfilled the requirements of the modern age, he added.
He said it was unfortunate that the ideal strategic location of Pakistan could not be benefitted in the past and that was why it could not do well. However, it was pleasing that the matter had been made part of national priorities and work in this regard was underway swiftly. President Mamnoon said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas stood firm despite worst form of terrorism in their areas. The sacrifices of the people and law enforcement agencies had led to the defeat of terrorists giving way to the peace in the country.
He also directed the authorities concerned to immediately expand the distance learning programme of Sarhad University to the tribal areas.
The President said that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was not merely a network of roads but a mega project. It required Pakistani people to achieve competence in the fields of science and technology, agricultural research, communications, information technology and economics to end their dependence on the foreign technical experts to operationalise Gwadar Port and Economic Corridor.
The President clarified that the government had not modified the CPEC’s route and propaganda in this regard was just baseless. He also advised the students to extend their unanimous support to the development projects to ensure their timely completion and the country’s economic stability.
He said no nation could progress and face the challenges without getting modern education. He urged the students to maintain their relationship with education and research in their practical lives to compete with the new challenges.
The President said that the basic purpose of their education and life should be the service of the humanity.
The government was fully focusing on promotion of education and efforts were underway for a uniform curriculum in the country, he added. Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Mukhtar Ahmed also addressed the event.
Earlier, the President awarded degrees and medals among the position holders in various disciplines. Five students were awarded PhD degrees, 13 got MS and MPhil degrees, and 500 students were awarded bachelor degrees in the convocation.
Some 28 students also bagged gold medals in recognition of their outstanding performance during their studies.