PESHAWAR: About 350 graduates of different sessions were conferred degrees at the 21st convocation of the Jinnah College for Women, University of Peshawar, here on Saturday.

Degrees were awarded in three categories, BA, BSc and BS Economics, according to a press release. Gold medals were awarded to Hafiza Sadia Rehman, Sana Shah, Sidra Saeed Qazi, Neelam Shahi Mulk and Aisha Irum for getting first positions in their respective disciplines.

Provincial Minister for Higher Education Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, UoP vice chancellor Professor Mohammad Rasul Jan, college’s principal Professor Nilofar Zeb Arbab, faculty members, students and their parents were in attendance.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Ghani said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was striving to provide quality education to youth to bring about a positive change in the province.

He added that an endowment fund of Rs500 million had been established for financial assistance of the poor and needy students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Besides a token money of Rs2,000 per month is being provided to the jobless youth as stipend till they get a decent job,” he added.

Mr Ghani said the talented students of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who wanted to seek admission in the reputed universities abroad would be provided financial assistance. He requested the UoP vice chancellor Mohammad Rasul Jan and his team to give technical support in the establishment of the education city in Swabi. “This year’s graduates are special because they are the golden jubilee students of JCW,” said Professor Jan.

He urged the students to strive to be good citizens of the country.