PESHAWAR: Adviser to the Chief Minister on Higher Education and Information Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani has said institutions like the College of Home Economics could pave the way for developing entrepreneurship in women by encouraging them to start small and medium enterprises.

He was addressing as the chief guest at the 17th convocation of the college held at the University of Peshawar here on Monday.

Three hundred graduates were awarded degrees in BSc and MSc home economics.

The adviser conferred degrees and medals on the students.UoP Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Rasul Jan, secretary higher education Fahim Wazir, dean faculty of management and information sciences Prof Bushra Hamid and Principal College of Home Economics Prof Syeda Kaniz Fatima Haider were also present, according to a press statement.

Mushtaq Ghani said that provision of education, especially to girls, was provincial government`s top priority. He said more women universities had been established in the province whereas special emphasis was on setting up girls colleges in order to make higher education accessible to women of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He said the College of Home Economics had got seasoned pro-fessionals and was one of the best colleges in Pakistan devoted to the study of home economics and enabling students to meet the challenges of a free society.

For her outstanding achievement in BSc home economics, Tehiyat Fatima was awarded gold medal for the year 2013. Laloona Jalwa and Aisha were conferred gold medals for achieving top positions in the years 2014 and 2015, respectively. In MSc home economics category, Sidra, Nayaz Noor and Gulsanga were bestowed with gold medals for standing out in the years 2012, 2012 and 2014, respectively.

On the occasion, UoP Vice Chancellor Dr Rasul Jan said the college had been offering best home economics education for last54 years, adding that the institution equipped young women with the specialised knowledge in the fields of interior design, textile design, small business management, teaching, and research.

The vice chancellor announced establishment of department of parliamentary studies in the varsity which would provide hands-on training to legislators and politicians.

Earlier, the college principal in her performance report elaborated that home economics education offered degrees in five separate disciplines with special emphasis on entrepreneurship development.

She added that the college had 1,500 students with 80 faculty members and was also offering PhD degree programme.