Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan and Chancellor of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), in his speech on Wednesday at 11th convocation of the university has said that after tough times , the Pakistanis are now entering into the phase of being a better nation.
On the first day of convocation, as many as 6385 degrees were conferred on students, while 6726 degrees will be conferred on female students on Thursday. According to details, in the 39 years long history of IIUI, it will be 11th convocation in which total 13111 degrees will be conferred on male and female students.
After this convocation, total produced degree holders’ number will reach to 51113. University 
will confer 206 PhD degrees on students, while total number of IIUI’s PhD students will reach to 419. A total of 319 students will be awarded gold medals in the two-day long mega event.
After conferring PhD degrees and gold medals on IIUI student, Dr. Alvi said in his speech that Pakistan and its people have learnt from harsh times. He said that knowledge without pain for humanity is akin to a null and void laborious activity. He called upon students to be thankful to the teachers and parents who spared money and precious times on their study.
He opined that knowledge was im
perative for maintaining peace and justice in the society. He said youth is a precious asset and nation is proud of its talented young minds. He furthered that the nation is thankful to God who gave respect to the nation in the previous month.
IIUI Rector Dr. Masoom Yasinzai said in his speech that a major shift taking place in the University’s academic programmes is towards Science and Technology, in consonance of the national priorities as well as the needs of the Muslim Ummah.
“To achieve this objective, the University in addition to the establishment of Sciences & Engineering based faculties has set up Al-Farabi Research Centre which is involved in problem-solving research” he said.
This is a recent trend and we are happy that IIUI has taken this initiative” he said. He furthered that over the last o
ne decade, this university has had a very rapid growth and the physical capacity has shortened. “We are grateful to the brotherly countries who have provided 52 highly qualified teachers, such as 30 teachers from Al-Azhar University in Cairo, the Scholars from Saudi Arabia and Sudan, who are significantly augmenting the number and quality of teachers in our Islamic Faculties” Dr. Masoom said.
IIUI President Dr. Ahmed Yousif Al-Draiweesh said that IIUI is a prestigious scientific institution that has an enrollment of more than 31,000 students from 45 nationalities in nine faculties and 42 teaching departments and a Centre of excellence in Technology, Interdisciplinary research and advanced labs.
“Among the most important achievements of the university is the preparation of the Message of Pakistan titled “Paigham-e-Pakistan” calling for security, safety, and peace spreading the teachings of Islam aimed at moderation, peaceful coexistence and social security” said IIUI President. He told that The Executive Council of the Federation of the Universities of the Islamic World has also approved the establishment of the International Center for Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence in cooperation with the International Islamic University Islamabad and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).
He hoped that these graduating students will serve their respective communities in the fields of their specializations with best efforts and skills for which they have been prepared with all sincerity and dedication, imbued with full commitment to Islamic principles, standards and ethics.
It is pertinent to mention here that on Thursday as many as 6726 degrees will be conferred on female students.