GIK induction ceremony: Youth urged to promote tolerance, bring social change

SWABI: Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Chairperson Senator Rubina Khalid on Tuesday emphasized the importance of unity and working together to strengthen the country.

She encouraged the youth to take an active role in promoting tolerance, critical thinking, and social change.She visited the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI) as the chief guest for the induction ceremony of the new batch of students.

Salim Saifullah Khan, President of Society for Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan and Board of Governors GIK Institute, Executive Director Shakil Durrani, Rector Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, students from across the country and others attended the ceremony.

“There is a dire need for social change and the younger generation must play a role in distinguishing right from wrong and fostering a culture of understanding,” Rubina Khalid said.She also spoke about the influence of social media on society, emphasizing the importance of using words wisely as they helped build character.

Keeping in mind Pakistan’s internal and external challenges, there was a dire need for coordinated efforts and giving up the practice of protest, he went on to add.Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid said, “GIK Institute has become an icon of quality education over the past three decades.”

He noted that the Institute’s over 7,500 alumni were working in multinational companies around the world. He reminded the new students of the importance of remaining vigilant in their pursuit of knowledge, especially under the semester system.

Salim Saifullah praised the efforts of the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto for establishing BISP, which currently supports 9.3 million underprivileged women across the country with the number of beneficiaries expected to reach 10 million.