ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President, Dr. Arif Alvi, on Wednesday said that the youth could significantly contribute to reshaping the country’s destiny through the effective use of intellect, morality, and education.
President Alvi said that strong leadership and the appropriate application of intellect are required and expressed confidence in the youth’s capability to actively participate in overall progress and development.
Speaking at the convocation of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), the president drew attention to the vital role of education and health in China’s robust development. He suggested that Pakistan should follow the Chinese model to achieve rapid development goals.
44 Percent Children Out of School in Pakistan
Referring to the graduates of AIOU as the elite of the country, President Alvi noted their distinction in securing a graduate degree in a nation where over 26 million children, or 44%, are still out of school.
He highlighted the regional countries’ higher ratio of school-going children, emphasizing the need for additional schools to accommodate out-of-school children.
President Alvi proposed utilizing the country’s approximately 300,000 mosques to educate out-of-school children. He expressed regret over the lack of sympathy in the developed world, citing the world’s pursuit of vested interests and the absence of empathy amid atrocities in Gaza.
Addressing the unresolved Kashmir issue, he reiterated Pakistan’s intention to seek a resolution at the United Nations but lamented the prolonged duration without a resolution. President Alvi called for an end to global wealth exploitation, advocating for the fulfillment of individuals’ rightful share, ultimately leading to peace and unity.
Encouraging graduates to continue their pursuit of knowledge in practical life, he specifically advised women graduates to pursue careers even after marriage, citing the ability to manage both jobs and family life in the current technological era.
President Alvi praised Pakistan’s response to COVID-19, declaring it the world’s 5th best-performing country due to timely and prudent government strategies. Recalling the establishment of AIOU in the 1970s, he acknowledged the university’s pivotal role in providing education, especially in remote areas.
During the convocation, President Alvi conferred degrees and medals to the graduating students.
AIOU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Nasir Mehmood, said that the university had graduated approximately 5 million students and was providing free education to transgenders, jail inmates, and children of martyrs.
