ISLAMABAD At the third convocation of National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Business School as many as 221 students were awarded BBA degrees awarded from sessions of 2004, 2005 and 2006 Saturday. NUST Rector Engr Muhammad Asghar who was the chief guest on the occasion awarded degrees to 221 graduating students of the BBA. The event was well attended by the DG and Dean, NBS Dr Ashfaque H. Khan, faculty members, graduating students and their parents. Winners of the Presidents Gold Medal include Tahmeen Ahmad Khan from BBA-2004 with CGPA: 3.91 out of 4.00, Lala Rukh Syed from BBA-2004 with CGPA: 3.91, Shazil Pervaiz from BBA-2005 with CGPA: 3.88 and Fatima Zehra from session BBA-2006 securing CGPA: 3.83. The rector speaking on the event said education funding has become a big issue in Pakistan. Such a situation once emerged in the USA as well. On being told that they were spending too much money on education, President of the Harvard University replied, If you want to know the value of education, try ignorance. His audience was sensible, so they did not experiment with ignorance and are leaders of the world today. We have not only tried ignorance, but are badly stuck in it and are facing its consequences, he added. He stressed that with the sources of funding for faculty development drying out and reduced funds for higher education we have to make alternative arrangements to meet the financial needs of this vital sector. While highlighting the historical facts of funding for the education sector in Pakistan, the rector observed that under the vision of Dr Attaur Rahman and his team at HEC, universities today were able to discover a place for them in the overall structure of institutions. With the establishment of HEC, all universities gained a lot and NUST also went up the progress ladder with very good speed. Referring to a Gallup survey the Rector informed the audience that the total enrolment in Pakistan stood at 36 million students, out of which 0.8 million were enrolled to higher education. The survey concluded that most of the educational responsibility had been outsourced by the government. The rector commended the faculty and staff of NBS for transforming NIMS into an outstanding Business School. Starting with less than 100 students it has grown to the size of about 1,100 students without losing quality. More importantly they have added new programmes to social sciences like economics, mass communication, public administration. Dr Ashfaque H. Khan also addressed the ceremony and while felicitating the graduating students he advised them to keep up the high values and standards of their institute. He urged the students to play their role in the economic growth of the country in such recessionary economic situation and must possess entrepreneurship qualities.