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LAHORE: The Forman Christian College (FCC) held its 147th convocation at the campus on Saturday, the chief guest of the event being FCC patron and Punjab Governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa.
The convocation was the ninth since the FCC became a chartered university in 2004. Degrees were conferred to 174 students on the convocation, among which 51 were of BA Honours, 72 of BSc Honours, 8 of BSc Honours Business, 10 of BSc Honours Computer Science, 9 of MAS Economics, 10 of MPhil Biotechnology, 4 of MPhil Chemistry, and 10 of PG Advanced Diploma in English Language Teaching.
Awards were also distributed to Intermediate students who had produced outstanding results in the board exams. The Maulana Syed Farzand Ali Medal for securing the highest marks in Arts/Humanities was awarded to Muhammad Safi Aslam, The Allama Inayatullah al-Mashriqi Medal for first position in General Science went to Abrar Aslam, Muhammad Rafay Khan Niazi won the Dr K C Chaterjee Medal for the highest score in Pre-Medical group, and Mian Muhammad Waqas received the Dr M I D Chugtai Medal for securing the first position in Intermediate Pre-Engineering. Also, Dr Lubna Amir from the Department of Chemistry received the Outstanding College Teacher Award.
An honourary doctorate was conferred on Anwar Pervez. Anwar migrated to the UK in 1952 and from humble origins built up Bestway, one of the largest food wholesalers in the UK. Despite the success, he has not forgotten his roots and has worked tirelessly to improve conditions in Pakistan through philanthropy and business development.
Khosa said that the four-year BS programme was a pace setter in the history of higher education in the Pakistan. He said that educational institutions had to encourage the students to explore and research new fields that were of their interest. He concluded by emphasising on the importance of education in creating a peaceful, tranquil and tolerant society. At the end of the convocation address, the governor was also presented with a college plaque by the rector.
Separately, the rector summarised the progress the university had made since its denationalisation. The student body had increased by 94 percent, the faculty by 86 percent of which 50 percent held PhD degrees. In addition to the new degree programmes, the rector highlighted the renovation of existing buildings and construction of two new buildings.
