RAWALPINDI – Begum Fauzia Gilani, wife of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday urged the graduates to positively use their knowledge for the betterment of society.
Addressing the 22nd convocation of Pakistan Air Force’s Bilquis College of Education for Women, Chaklala, Begum Gilani said the graduates could prove themselves as leaders not only within their own families and workplaces, but also at national and international levels. Begum Fauzia Gilani said the empowerment of a woman is not merely empowerment of an individual, but it gives strength to family and ultimately a society.
She said women have the potential to transform society from inside out provided they are given enabling environment to realise their God-given potential. To the students she said, “You are about to enter a new exciting world, which is changing rapidly. Only those will survive and succeed, who will be able to anticipate the change. Those will one day lead the nation to a greater progress and time of prosperity.”
She expressed satisfaction over the brilliant young women who showed outstanding results in academics and were awarded gold medals in their respective disciplines. She mentioned a quote of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah as saying that “No nation can ever be worthy of its existence that cannot take its women along with the men. No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men.”
Begum Gilani awarded trophies, medals and crests to the position holders of the students graduating Masters of Arts (Education), MEd, Bachelor of Arts and B Ed Courses.
The ‘Quaid-e-Azam Trophy’ for best student of the year was won by Munazza Sadaf of B.A Course. College crest as the distinguished student for the year 2008-10 was won by Zarah Anne Lorraine and President PAFWA certificate for year 2009-10 was won by Munezza Aqueel.
Air Commodore (Retd) Dr Ijaz Ahmad Malik, Vice Chancellor Air University Islamabad presided over the ceremony. Begum Shehla Tahir, wife of Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, who is President Pakistan Air Force Women Association (PAFWA) also attended the ceremony.
Air Commodore (Retd) Dr Ijaz Ahmad Malik conferred the degrees on 802 students of MA Education, M Ed, BA and B Ed Courses.
Earlier, Kaukab Ara Nasir, Principal Bilquis College of Education for Women presented the annual report of the college.