Education central route to development: Khalid Maqbool

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Khalid Maq­bool Siddiqui has said, education is the sole path to Development of the country. He expressed these words while addressing as chief guest at the convocation of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Sindh Chapter, held in Karachi on Sunday. The minister emphasized that edu­cation is not only a necessity of the times but also the first command­ment of our religion.

He warned that if we fail to align ourselves with the demands of the present era and do not strive to change ourselves, exter­nal forces will impose their changes upon us. Federal Minister for Edu­cation and Vice-Chancellor AIOU has distributed degrees to passed out students and the students with out­standing performance were awarded gold medals. Congratulating the graduates, the Federal Minister emphasized that their success is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and the quali­ty education provided by Allama Iqbal Open University, along with the ef­forts and competence of its teachers.



He remarked that the fast-changing world has transformed everything, and those who fail to adapt are left behind, as even divine interven­tion does not aid those unwilling to change themselves. Highlighting Paki­stan’s youth as both an opportunity and a challenge, he noted that 65% of the country’s population comprises young people, equating to approxi­mately 180 million youth. He urged them to adapt to contem­porary changes to contribute effec­tively to the country’s progress.

The Minister gave special congratu­lations to the gold medal recipients, stating that their medals are a source of pride for the nation. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nasir Mahmood mentioned that AIOU has 10 region­al campuses in Sindh, with around 44,000 students currently enrolled.

He revealed that approximately five million students have graduated from the university to date, claiming that there is hardly a household in Pakistan without a student or gradu­ate of AIOU. Dr. Nasir highlighted that AIOU’s educational scope is no longer confined to Pakistan, with students from 36 countries pursuing education at this prestigious institution.

He congratulated the graduates, saying, “This university is yours, and you are our pride. Let us contribute to the progress of this nation.”.