KARACHI: A ceremony to mark a support initiative by Pakistan Customs for the students of Institute of Business Administration (IBA) from rural areas took place on Wednesday at the Directorate General of Training and Research (DGTR).
Former Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and Director of IBA Dr Ishrat Hussain was the chief guest on the occasion.
Chief Collector Appraisement-South Nasir Masroor Ahmed, Collector MCC Appraisement-East Najeebur Rehman Abbasi, Collector MCC Appraisement-West Muhammad Saleem, Collector MCC Preventive Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda, Director DGTR Ghulam Ahmed, Director General Transit Trade Khawar Farid Maneka, Director Input-Output Co-efficient Organization Muhammad Fateh Shaikh, Director Customs Valuation Surriya Butt, Director Directorate of Reforms and Automation Abdul Majid Yousfani, Additional Collectors, Deputy Collectors, Assistant Collectors and other Customs officials were also present on the occasion.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dean of IBA Dr Ishrat Hussain said that the progress and development of the country cannot be made possible without elimination of dual education standards, adding that the less privileged talented youth has equal rights to get quality education.
IBA Dean said that the top of priority of IBA administration was to expand the physical scenario of the institution by introducing new faculties in it, adding that the IBA has introduced 13 new faculties in the institution.
“We have also introduced undergraduate programmes in the faculties of economics, political science, Information Technology and others,” he added.
Dr Ishrat further informed that IBA has reached a student limit of 3400 from 1800, adding that four hostel buildings having accommodation facility of 250 students each have also been constructed in the institution.
“We have the privilege of having state of the art IT faculty in the institution established at a cost of around Rs 500 million,” he informed.
Highlighting the performance of IBA, Dr Ishrat further informed that the institution was running two programmes simultaneously i.e. National Talent Hunt Programme, in which the institution was mentoring the student and the other one was Sindh Foundation Programme through which the institution was providing six months training to students for their aptitude tests.
“The donation of Pakistan Customs towards less privileged and down-trodden students is priceless and I am grateful for the entire management of Pakistan Customs for this generous act,” he added.
He hoped that the other governmental institutions may come forward and play their due role in strengthening the down-trodden society of the country.
Collector MCC Preventive Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda in his welcome address said that Pakistan Customs is committed to serve the less privileged society. He said that Customs officers had donated Rs 3.5 million for deserving students belonging to the rural areas to encourage their educational pursuits at IBA.
“We have pledged to donate a day’s salary every year for the less privileged seven students, which makes Rs 4 million all together,” he added.
Director DGTR Ghulam Ahmed said that the Federal Board of Revenue was also playing its responsibilities in social circle. He said that Pakistan Customs is going to continue bearing the education expense of 7 IBA students from rural areas.
“We pledged our support whole-heartedly to IBA and wishing it all the success in upcoming days, he added.
On the occasion, Ghulam Ahmed highlighted the importance of training at Pakistan Customs and said that the world class facilities were being utilized by the organization to train its employees as per global standards of Customs and regulations.
Later, Collector Preventive S M Tariq Huda presented a flower bouquet and memento to Director IBA Dr Ishrat Hussain.
