The 5th convocation of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University was held successfully at Arija Campus on 8 Jan 2024.
The Vice Chancellor Prof Nusrat Shah presided over the ceremony. Prof Dr Tahmina Mangan, Vice Chancellor of Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University and Prof Asghar Channa, Ex-Vice Chancellor of SMBBMU were the Guests of Honour.
The vice chancellor conferred 361 degrees in medicine (MBBS), 119 dental degrees (BDS), 42 Nursing degrees (BSN), 23 Pharmacy degrees (Pharmacy-D) and 10 postgraduate degrees and diplomas. Sixty-four meritorious students were awarded gold medals. Late Prof Wazir Mohammad Shaikh award presented to best graduates in the field of Medicine, Late Prof Bilqees Malik award for best graduates of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Prof Ali Akbar Siyal award to best graduate of Pharmacy.
Prof Nusrat Shah congratulated the new graduates and said the seed of university was sown 50 years ago by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in the form of Chandka Medical College. It was the dream of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto that SMBBMU is now a full fledged medical university with 6 constituent colleges and institutes.
She said the university has faced unprecedented academic and infrastructure challenges due to the devastating floods of 2022. It has also braved severe financial crisis due to the 300 M loan and 400 M budget deficit along with huge liabilities in pension and other payments. The vice chancellor said during her one year tenure the university has paid off the loan, significantly reduced budget deficit and completed 3 development projects. Academic challenges have been overcome, several national and international linkages have been developed, a research culture has been promoted and first issue of scientific research journal Jsmbbmu published online.
Addressing the fresh graduates, Prof Nusrat Shah said “you are now a part of healthcare system of Sindh. The world is getting more complicated, technology is advancing at an alarming rate and robots are doing surgeries instead of surgeons. Are you ready to equip yourself with the modern technology skills.” She said we are living in 21st century but our people are still dying of malaria, TB, typhoid, dengue and HIV. The graduates need to take up the challenge of saving their people’s lives and work on prevention of avoidable diseases.
Prof Tahmina Mangan and Prof Asghar Channa paid tributes to Shaheed Z. A. Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and urged the graduates to serve the ailing humanity with empathy, dedication and compassion. They congratulated the vice chancellor and faculty for organising a successful 5th convocation of SMBBMU Larkana.
