Islamabad (GNP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal urged graduates of the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) to take up the cause of Pakistan’s economic transformation, saying universities must act as growth engines of the national economy through technology, innovation and research.
The minister was the chief guest at the NUST Master Convocation 2026, held at the university’s main campus in Islamabad, where he was received by Rector NUST Dr Muhammad Zahid Latif. The ceremony conferred degrees on 66 PhD scholars and awarded President’s Gold Medals to 26 undergraduate students and Chancellor’s Silver Medals to 28 undergraduate students.
Welcoming the graduates, their parents and the faculty, Rector NUST Dr Zahid said the day marked the start of the complex challenges awaiting the graduating class and acknowledged the sacrifices their families had made. He said NUST has evolved into a leading institution that prepares students not only for academic excellence but also for service to society.
Noting that the world is becoming faster and more complex, he said knowledge alone is not enough, and graduates must lead with honesty, integrity and dedication. Education at NUST, he said, is fundamentally about transformation, with ethics and morality at its core. He added that in an era of artificial intelligence and rapid change, the university is focused on emerging technologies and leadership skills.
Addressing the women graduates, the Rector expressed confidence that they would lead in their fields with courage and said NUST is committed to women’s empowerment. He called on all graduates to make a positive difference in society.
Congratulating the graduates, PhD holders and medallists, Ahsan Iqbal said it was an honour to graduate from one of Pakistan’s leading universities. Recalling his tenure as Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission in the 1990s, he said the NUST model was presented at that time and that he had assured its future as a leading university in Pakistan and the world.
He paid tribute to parents for the sacrifices they made for their children’s education. Practical life, he said, begins after graduation, and he urged graduates to build projects and a legacy through which people will remember them. “People are known in society by their contributions,” he said, calling on the graduates to work for the well-being of Pakistan in their respective fields.
The minister said Pakistan still lags behind the world in the technological revolution, per capita income and exports, and faces challenges related to export markets, technology adoption and economic structure. He said increasing exports is the priority of the Uraan Pakistan programme, and that universities must drive technological revolution, innovation and transformation.
Describing the world as entering an age of disruption, with artificial intelligence upending existing systems and political and economic stability shifting, he stressed the need for reforms, which in turn require a peaceful and stable environment. Pakistan has enough resources to change its trajectory, he said, and its youth can play a key role. He added that universities have a role in providing the government with key solutions and advised graduates to learn from setbacks in life.
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Referring to the country’s young people, the minister said they are not to be seen as a cockroach but as Iqbal’s Shaheen (eagle).
The convocation marked the start of NUST Convocation Week 2026.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
