ISLAMABAD: A total of 881 Bahria University Islamabad students graduated at the institution`s 21st convocation on Tuesday.

The ceremony was held at the Jinnah Convention Centre, with President Dr Arif Alvi, chancellor of Bahria University, was invited as the chief guest.

He conferred degrees alongside the university`s rector to graduates from PhD, MPhil, masters and undergraduate programmes.

Dr Alvi awarded students 23 gold and 17 silver medals for achievingthetoppositionsintheir respective programmes.

Addressing the students, he said: `I feel delighted to see the burgeoning number of successful graduates Bahria University isproducing every year. The intellect that is fostered here and the body of knowledge that is created will certainly become an engine for the developmental process in Pakistan in years ahead.

Universities are immensely important in building the human capital of any nation.

He also praised the university for emphasising skills development, and encouraged students by advising them to be creative and to follow their dreams.

In his welcome address, Bahria University Rector retired Vice Admiral Mohammad Shafiq said the university has done its best to equip students with the necessary fundamental principles of conducting scholastic enquiry and training for communication and interpersonal skills.

He also acknowledged the roleof the Higher Education Commission, the Punjab government and other organisations for sponsoring scholarships for stu-dents, saying this support helped provide opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds to pursue quality education.