The first convocation and award distribution ceremony of GIFT University, Gujranwala was held in the Convocation Enclave on November 15, 2006. The Honourable Lt. Gen. (R) Khalid Maqbool H.I, H.I.(M). Governor of Punjab was the Chief Guest at the occasion.
In this Convocation, 204 students who graduated between Fall 2002 to Spring 2004 were conferred upon the degrees of MSc Accounting & Finance, MBA, MBIT, MA English and BCom. Gold and Silver medals were awarded to 23 position holders of the graduate and undergraduate programme. A large number of prominent citizens including City District Nazim, DCO, AIG Police, President GCCI, Vice President FPCCI, Members of BOT and parents of the graduating students also attended the convocation.
GIFT University was established in 2002. In this short span of time, GIFT University has established a remarkable repute for imparting contemporary education in Pakistan. Thus enabling its graduates to successfully compete in the modern technological era. It was awarded charter by the Govt. of the Punjab in 2004. It is the first chartered University in the region between Lahore and Islamabad. It is also recognized by HEC as a degree awarding institution. It's a great honour not only for the University but also for the people of this region that a first ever Convocation of a Chartered University has taken place in this region.
In his Convocation address, Governor of Punjab, Lt. Gen. (R) Khalid Maqbool appreciated the enviable progress made by GIFT University in a short span of time. He said that GIFT University had improved its ranking in this era of competition, and interaction with its graduates revealed that they are being chosen by multinationals, banks and telecom sector on priority basis. Governor urged that graduates of the University should be able to start or promote their business and be capable of becoming business executives instead of rushing after jobs. They should be capable of facing pressures of the modern society and competition at global level. He also praised the efforts of the Chairman for his services in establishing the University and also in supporting the region with the projects like Roshni Homes Trust.
The Rector of the University presented the Convocation Report. He gave a comprehensive introduction on the operations of the University. He said that GIFT provides perfect atmosphere for learning and has been the product of devoted work by a team of seasoned academicians, scholars, educational planners and managers under the dynamic leadership of our Chairman, Mr. Muhammad Anwar Dar. He said that Faculties of Computer Science, Business & Commerce, Management Sciences, Arts & Social Sciences, Accounting and Finances and Art, Design and Architecture had already been established at GIFT University and more faculties will be added in coming years for which feasibilities are in progress. He thanked the members of the staff for their coordination in the arrangements of the Convocation.
Mr. Muhammad Anwar Dar, in his address, congratulated the first ever graduates with the hope that they will prove themselves as market leaders, productive and responsible members of the global society. He said that the rapid progress made by the University, with in a short span of time, has been a landmark. While addressing to the graduates, he said that the Graduates from GIFT University are essential for the local and regional industries as they are more familiar with the local and regional environment. They are also being offered jobs by the leading multinational companies such as telecom, Banks and the Textile Sector.
Earlier, Deans Professor Dr. Surrya Shafi Mir and Professor Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Tahir with the permission of Chief Guest admitted students to the degrees . Medals were awarded to the following students; Tehmina Naz, gold, and Hira Javed, silver, in MA Eng. & Literature Fall 2002. Aadila Hussain, gold, in MA Eng. & Literature Fall 2003. Samra Kiran Mughal, gold, and Muhammad Usman Zafar, silver, in MBA Fall 2002. Jehan Zaib, gold, and Wasim Shaukat, silver, in Spring 2003. Khuram Jehangir, gold, and Mohammad Kamran Haider Sherazi, silver, in MBA Fall 2003. Nadeem Sabir, gold, in MBA. Mohey-ud-Din Aurangzaib, gold, and Fraz Ahmad, silver, in MBIT Fall 2002. Ambreen Naseer, gold, in MS Accounting & Finance Spring 2003. Adnan Sajjad Dar, gold, and Muhammad Toqeer, silver, in MS Accounting & Finance Fall 2003. Mohammad Waqas, gold, and Muhammad Hassan Jabbar, silver, in B.Com. Fall 2002. Irfan Mahmood, gold, and Zeeshan Hussain, silver, in B. Com. Spring 2003. Ansa Faiza Irfan, gold, and Saiqa Ajmal, silver, in B. Com. Spring 2004.
