Education is India’s only advantage over us: CM

By Rahib Raza

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan lags behind India only because of a lack of education facilities here, but expressed confidence that the nation’s young people would tackle this issue.

Kinnaird students celebrate at the 74th convocation in the college amphitheatre on Tuesday.

“I don’t have any doubts that you will become the leaders, that you will show your expertise to the world and that we will confidently hand over our duties to you,” Shairf said in his speech at the 74th convocation of Kinnaird College for Women University at its Perin Boga Amphitheatre on Tuesday night.

The chief minister lamented that Pakistan was living on “leftovers” – a reference to the schools and universities set up by the British and by missionaries, which account for most of the country’s top institutions.

He said he had initiated the Danish schools programme in the province to set up institutes that would cater to children from all backgrounds. “The Danish schools will provide the best primary and basic education to the children who have never seen the inside of an institute before,” he said.

Some 500 post-graduate students, 473 graduate students, 19 academic gold medallists, 15 co-curricular gold medallists, 68 students on the principal’s honour list, and 34 from the 2006-2010 session and 30 from the 2005-2009 session with a CGPA of 3.80 or above were honoured at the convocation.

Dr Alexander John Malik, the bishop of Lahore and chairman of the KCWU Board of Governors, presided over the ceremony. He congratulated the students and told them they should look to their futures with enthusiasm and commitment.

He said KCWU had shown it was the best college for girls. “That’s why parents turn to KCWU to find their daughters-in-law and organisations look here for future leaders, PhDs and researchers,” he said.

Principal Rukhsana David in her speech tried to motivate the fresh graduates to make their mark in Pakistan. She also spoke about the new developments at the institute. The day ended with a formal dinner with parents, faculty members and teachers.

Farooq Altaf, the law secretary; Fakir Aijazuddin, the principal of Aitchison College; Haseeb Athar, the education secretary; Ahad Cheema, the district coordination officer; Mujahid Kamran, the vice chancellor of Punjab University; Marcia Grant, the vice rector of FC College; and former KCWU principal Mira Phailbus also attended the convocation.

Crowd control

Heavy security and low capacity meant many students and their parents were unable to find seats for the convocation at Perin Boga Amphitheatre and so had to sit on staircases and walls.

The ceremony began two hours late as visitors were vetted at the entrance by security men. The corridors leading to the entrance were packed. The doors were closed once the chief minister arrived, leaving many people stranded outside. “The timing was poor. Many people didn’t get the chance to join in. They should have told us to be at the venue three hours early,” said Saba Alam, a student.

The crowded venue also meant that the graduating students could not walk up to the stage to receive their degrees. Instead, their names were announced and they stood at their seats. Many students left afterwards, before the chief minister’s speech.

Film on Benazir Bhutto leaves all spellbound

Karachi: It was on the eve of Benazir Bhutto’s 57th birthday, when a special screening of the Duane Baughman’s recently released film “Bhutto”, pulled in the who’s who of Pakistan to the theatre. From the bigwigs of Karachi to the representatives of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), all attended this much awaited screening with immense anticipation.

Shehla Raza, DeputySpeaker, Sindh Assembly said, “As we watched the film, we saw how a dictator ruined a country and a family.”

The one-and-a-half hour long documentary was first premiered at the 26th Sundance Film festival early this year. On June 11, the documentary hit all theatres across Pakistan generating much public interest.

“The film has received good response. A lot of people are watching this film. The film is presently in English. It should be translated into Urdu and local languages as well,” said Kaiser Rafiq,Director,Universe Cineplex Karachi.

Bhutto’s assassination has served as a fodder for film makers across the world. Ever since her death, a number of projects were announced and worked out. However, Duane Baughman’s ‘Bhutto’ is the first film about the assassinated former premier to have released so far. Apart from trailing the story of her life and her rise and shine, voices of international leaders like former president Musharraf, former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, journalists Mark Seigal, Christiana Lamb, and Tariq Ali, mapping her political career, keep viewers glued to their seats until the very end of the documentary.

After watching the film with his children,Nadeem Mandiwalla,Managing Director,Mandviwalla Entertainment said, “This is a great film, compared to what we see otherwise in Pakistan, this movie is very different. Something, that talks about the life of leaders in layman terms. An informative film for the new generation that has no idea about, how just a normal woman turned out to become a gritty politician, whereas at the same time she managed her family, her children, and her marital obligations equally well.”

Although, it is over ten days now since the movie’s release, the film is still pulling in the crowds. Critics have praised Baughman’s narration and technique. Baughman has used Bakhtawar and Aseefa, her sister Sanam and even her estranged niece Fatima to bring alive the personal aspect of the Bhutto’s life. The film also features a special tribute to Benazir Bhutto by her daughter Bakhtawar, who has reworked on the PPP’s anthem “Dila Teer Bija” exclusively for the film.

With so many added attractions the film has left all spellbound making it a runaway hit. Distributors can’t stop smiling as they believe that in the coming weeks too, the film will rope in more big bucks.