It was almost perfect! The first rain of the winter season, the day after the seed sown a decade ago turned into a promising tree, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Abbottabad Campus, beckoned its Alumni to relish the moment in its first Reunion. The occasion was honored with the presence of Professor Dr. M. Azeem, the first Director Academics CIIT and founder Director of CIIT Attock Campus, Prof. Dr. Gul Khan Jadoon, the Worthy Director of CIIT Abbottabad and the Alumni of the institute along with faculty members and students.
The event was a wonderful coincidence, with the Prime Ministers’ announcement, the previous day to grant the institute the status of a university. In its essence the event was an opportunity for the Alumni to visit their Alma Mater and interact with teachers, peers and students. The objective, as it was so eloquently put by the convener of the occasion Mr. Ghias Uddin Shah, was to make a public exposure of the COMSATS Abbottabad Alumni Association.
The worthy Chief Guest in his speech emphasized on the fact of the alumni bon.jpg)
ding with the institution. Highlighting the value of the industrial affiliation of the academic institutes, the Chief Guest emphasized the importance of Alumni playing their part in determining industrial liaison for CIIT Abbottabad students and making space in the market for fresh graduates of the university. Apart from that, he urged the alumni to help in the collection of endowment funds and advised the university management to make arrangements for a permanent cell for Alumni Association in the university to facilitate alumni activities.
On a similar note, the Director CIIT Abbottabad Prof. Dr. Khan Gul Jadoon also emphasized the importance of Alumni role in strengthening their Alma Mater. Speaking on the occasion, the president Alumni Association, Mr. Ibrar assured to provide every possible support to strengthen CIIT Abbottabad.
Apart from the dignitaries, the prominent members of the Alumni Association also spoke to the gathering. Amongst them were engineers from reputed companies like HALLIBURTON, winners of the Fulbright scholarships, Poets and Speakers, Army officers including the winner of Commandant Stick, Teachers, Bankers, Government Officers and many others from prestigious institutions. They spoke about how COMSATS shaped their personalities in order to face the challenges of professional life. They appreciated the faculty members for their motivation and commitment towards teaching. They thanked Mr. Ghiasuddin Shah, Head of Office of Development, CIIT, Abbottabad for his initiative to organize the COMSATS Alumni Association and holding the first ever Alumni Reunion in the campus.
On a lighter note, the seriousness of the event was neutralized by the commendable efforts of the students who performed exquisite parodies of the prominent teachers of the university and enhanced the mood and buzz around the hall. There were shared moments of happiness related to university life, jokes, and ideas of promising progress. Later on during the dinner the guests met the students and shared personal and professional experiences of the university and professional lives.
The evening ended with the memories of happiness and gratitude, and promised a future with a pleasant change! As the worthy Director said “COMSATS is young but the force is there”.
