By our correspondent
KARACHI: The University of Karachi marked the arrival of its 75th batch of students with a large reception at the Silver Jubilee Gate, welcoming new entrants in a procession that culminated in a ceremony near the Administration Building.
The event, jointly organised by the university and its alumni body Unikarian International, began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Huffaz at the main gate, followed by a procession of students and participants to the reception venue on Thursday.
The ceremony was led by the vice-chancellor, Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi, alongside the chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, Prof Dr Tariq Rafi, Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi president Mohammad Ahmed Shah, Unikarian International president Prof Ejaz Ahmed Faruqi, and the director general of the National Institute of Public Administration, Dr Syed Saif-ur-Rehman. Senior university officials, deans, members of the syndicate and senate, faculty, administrative staff and city dignitaries were also present.
Addressing the students, speakers stressed that higher education was not limited to earning a degree but played a central role in character building, personality development and national progress. Prof Tariq Rafi described the University of Karachi as one of the country’s largest institutions, producing graduates who have earned recognition at home and abroad. He welcomed the rise in female enrolment, particularly in medicine, but expressed concern that more than half of female medical graduates do not pursue professional practice, calling it a loss for both individuals and the country.
Mohammad Ahmed Shah paid tribute to parents, calling them the real heroes whose sacrifices make higher education possible, and urged students to live up to their families’ expectations. He welcomed the growing participation of women in higher education and said Pakistan’s challenges could only be addressed collectively.
The vice-chancellor said Pakistan lagged behind developed countries in education and needed to prioritise quality learning. He underlined the importance of justice, tolerance and respect for differing opinions, adding that the university aimed to nurture intellectual, moral and social growth alongside academic achievement.
Prof Ejaz Faruqi highlighted the university’s research output, saying that even the combined publications of other universities could not match those produced at Karachi University. He told students that their time at the institution would shape them as complete individuals, not just degree-holders.
Dr Saif-ur-Rehman recalled the university’s establishment in 1951 and its role in the academic and cultural development of Karachi and Pakistan, calling it a source of national pride. KUTS president Syed Ghufran Alam noted that only about 10% of Pakistan’s population reaches university level, urging students to recognise the privilege and use it for national development.
The students’ adviser, Dr Nausheen Raza, briefed the gathering on academic, co-curricular activities and the role of student societies operating under her office.
