KARACHI — The Aga Khan University (AKU) conferred degrees on 461 students from 18 academic programmes at its 38th Convocation in Pakistan, marking a milestone with the formal installation of Princess Zahra Aga Khan as the University’s first Pro-Chancellor.
Princess Zahra, in her new role, will help guide the University’s mission of improving quality of life through education, research, and service. In a message to graduates, AKU Chancellor His Highness the Aga Khan emphasized the responsibility of universities and their alumni to generate and apply knowledge for the betterment of humanity.
The convocation also marked the graduation of the first cohort from the Institute for Educational Development’s Bachelor of Education programme, designed to combine academic learning with practical classroom experience.
Addressing the ceremony, Princess Zahra highlighted AKU’s expanding presence across Pakistan, noting that the University now serves communities from major cities to remote regions through its health, education, and research initiatives.
Women made up nearly 70 percent of the graduating class, reflecting AKU’s ongoing commitment to promoting gender equity in higher education. The University also continues to support students from diverse economic backgrounds, providing financial assistance to 72 percent of its students in Pakistan during the last academic year.
Valedictorian Muhammad Taha Nasim thanked faculty members for fostering a culture of excellence grounded in empathy and social responsibility.
AKU graduates are contributing significantly to Pakistan’s workforce, particularly in the health sector. In nursing and midwifery, where shortages persist nationwide, AKU alumni hold leadership positions in about 80 institutions.
The University’s growing research profile was also highlighted. In 2025, AKU secured over USD 100 million in research funding, while 27 faculty members were ranked among the world’s top two percent of scientists in a global study conducted by a Stanford University researcher.
AKU President Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin said Pakistan’s youth are digitally skilled, inclusive, and capable of bridging social divides, viewing technology as an opportunity to advance learning and development.
Best Graduate Awards were presented to Noorish Khan (Dental Hygiene), Syeda Tasmiya Mohiuddin (Education), Dr Hamzah Jehanzeb (Medicine), and Sara Karim Sadruddin (Nursing).
The ceremony was attended by Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Founding President of AKU and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Central Asia. Awards of Distinction were also conferred on faculty and staff, with Professor Emeritus Mushtaq Ahmed receiving the President’s Medal for his outstanding service as a surgeon and academic leader.
