ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal urged graduates of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) to take up the cause of Pakistan’s economic transformation, saying universities must act as growth engines of the national economy through technology, innovation and research.
The minister was the chief guest at the NUST Master Convocation 2026, held at the university’s main campus in Islamabad, where he was received by Rector NUST Dr Muhammad Zahid Latif. The ceremony conferred degrees on 66 PhD scholars and awarded President’s Gold Medals to 26 undergraduate students and Chancellor’s Silver Medals to 28 undergraduate students.
Welcoming the graduates, their parents and the faculty, Rector NUST Dr Zahid said the day marked the start of the complex challenges awaiting the graduating class and acknowledged the sacrifices their families had made. He said NUST has evolved into a leading institution that prepares students not only for academic excellence but also for service to society.
Noting that the world is becoming faster and more complex, he said knowledge alone is not enough, and graduates must lead with honesty, integrity and dedication. Education at NUST, he said, is fundamentally about transformation, with ethics and morality at its core. He added that in an era of artificial intelligence and rapid change, the university is focused on emerging technologies and leadership skills.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026