Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Muhammad Azam Khan, said that education is not only about textbooks and lectures but also about developing students’ character and civic responsibility. He spoke at the induction ceremony of a new batch at GIK Institute.
He appreciated the proposals of Engr. Salim Saifullah Khan, president SOPREST, the parent body of the GIK Institute, to improve technical skills and educational standards in line with the changing technological and scientific world. He asked the GIK Institute to prepare a Concept Paper on these issues for further discussion and policy formulation by the provincial government.
He also paid tribute to the contributions of the late Ghulam Ishaq Khan, the former president of Pakistan and the namesake of GIK Institute, Mir Afzal Khan, the former chief minister of KP, Agha Hasan Abidi of Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), Dr. A. Q. Khan, the renowned scientist and former Project Director of the GIK Institute, H. U. Beg, the former federal secretary, and other distinguished personalities.
To the fresh students, he said: “You have earned the right to be called ‘GIKIAN’. The phrase ‘alma mater’ means ‘a nourishing mother’, and the whole world knows there is no bond deeper than a mother-child love.”
He advised the new students to make the best use of the learning opportunities at GIK Institute, which he said provides a conducive environment for networking, creativity, and excellence. “You are the future of Pakistan. You have immense potential to overcome challenges and achieve incredible feats,” he said.
Engr. Salim Saifullah Khan said that providing quality education is a collective endeavor and thanked the faculty and officials for their dedication. He also acknowledged the challenges faced by Pakistani society in meeting the economic and technological demands of the future.
Barrister Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, Provincial Information Minister, said that the lack of job opportunities for the educated youth is a serious problem that leads to brain drain. He stressed the need to find a solution to this issue.
Prof. Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid, Rector GIK Institute, gave an overview of the engineering disciplines, curricular and co-curricular activities, research and innovation, linkages with industry and foreign universities, and future plans of GIK Institute.
The ceremony was attended by fresh students, Pro-Rectors, Deans, Heads of Departments, faculty members, Directors, and other staff of the GIK Institute.
