HCBF Celebrates Academic Excellence at 13th Convocation

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The Provincial Minister for Higher Education, Rana Sikandar Hayat Khan, announced new plans to align university degree programs with market needs, stating that this will help students secure jobs without relying on personal connections. He made these remarks while addressing the 13th convocation of Punjab University (PU) Lahore’s Hailey College of Banking & Finance (HCBF) on Saturday.

During the event, which was attended by Punjab University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Dean Faculty of Commerce Prof Dr Mubbsher Munawar Khan, HCBF Principal Dr Ahmed Muneeb Mehta, Registrar Dr Ahmed Islam, Controller of Examinations Muhammad Rauf Nawaz, as well as faculty members, students, and parents, the minister shared his vision for the future of higher education in the province.

Rana Sikandar Hayat announced that one male and one female top-performing student from HCBF will be sponsored to visit Dubai this winter at his expense. He highlighted the importance of developing specialized IT universities and stressed the need for initiatives that empower women, stating, “The country cannot progress without the development of women.” He expressed his aspiration to see Punjab University rank among the top 100 universities in the world.

Praising the university’s administration, Rana Sikandar Hayat lauded the performance of PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, noting his successful efforts in improving Quaid-e-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad’s global ranking from around 600th to 315th. He said he believes Prof Dr Muhammad Ali is the ideal candidate to lead Punjab University to greater heights of academic excellence.

The minister also announced that the Punjab government will soon distribute 40,000 laptops to deserving students. Furthermore, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is set to launch a new scholarship program next week for 30,000 students.

During his speech, PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali emphasized the introduction of new degree programs aimed at developing students’ skills and enhancing their employability. He reiterated his commitment to providing quality education and making PU a center of excellence. “Pakistan is a land of opportunities. With hard work and dedication, our students can achieve great success,” he said.

Prof Dr Muhammad Ali also highlighted the urgent need to modernize PU’s infrastructure, citing the absence of a Software Technology Park at the university, despite one being established at DG Khan University. He expressed gratitude to the Punjab Chief Minister for ensuring that appointments of Vice-Chancellors are made purely on merit, which he described as the greatest service to the nation.

The convocation ceremony concluded with degrees being awarded to 350 students of BBA (Hons) and MBA programs, and medals presented to nine position holders.

HCBF Principal Dr Ahmed Muneeb Mehta congratulated the graduates and their parents, emphasizing that the future of the nation is in the hands of its youth. He also announced new degree programs at HCBF to meet the evolving demands of the market.

The event celebrated the achievements of the graduates and reinforced the government’s commitment to modernizing the educational sector through targeted reforms and merit-based initiatives.