At the Ahsan Iqbal UET convocation, the planning minister told engineering graduates that their degree alone will not carry them through their careers, and urged them to lead Pakistan’s economic transformation.
Addressing the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore’s 33rd Annual Convocation on November 10, Iqbal called the young engineers “Gen 47 2.0”. He said they carried the responsibility of turning Pakistan into a success story by 2047, when the country marks 100 years of independence.
“Your degree certifies what you have learned so far. Your career will depend on how well you keep learning,” he told the graduates.
AI and new technology will shape engineering
Iqbal said artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials and other emerging technologies were transforming engineering and global competition. He encouraged graduates to adopt these technologies while building independent thinking, sound judgment and the ability to keep learning throughout their careers.
He said Pakistan’s future would depend on young professionals who combine technical expertise with innovation, integrity and public service.
The minister said Pakistan must strengthen its ability to design, manufacture and export competitive products and technological solutions. He linked engineering expertise with the government’s URAAN Pakistan initiative, and named industrial productivity, reliable energy, water management, climate-resilient infrastructure, digital transformation and agricultural technology as the areas where young professionals could contribute most.
Explaining the vision of “Maarka-e-Taraqi”, he said its success should be measured through productive businesses, stronger institutions, meaningful employment and improvements in people’s lives. He said the generation that secured independence in 1947 had passed on the responsibility of fulfilling the country’s promise to today’s youth, through knowledge, enterprise and public service.
Ahsan Iqbal UET convocation: a graduate returns to his university
The address carried a personal note. Iqbal is himself a UET graduate, having completed his mechanical engineering degree there in 1981. He told the gathering that he had organised the university’s convocation in 1981 as president of the Students Union, after a gap of 10 years.
He paid tribute to his former teachers and to the parents who supported the graduates through their education.
The convocation was held at the UET Auditorium Complex. According to the university, degrees and medals went to graduates of Session 2022, Architecture Session 2021, and MBA, EMBA, MSc, MS, MPhil and PhD students who completed their requirements between November 21, 2025 and November 10, 2026.
Integrity and industry links
Iqbal urged graduates to put meaningful contributions ahead of personal advancement, to build disciplined work habits and to maintain professional integrity. He stressed that engineers carry responsibility for public safety, and must treat their knowledge, resources and professional authority as a trust.
He also encouraged young people to verify information before sharing it, to avoid persistent hopelessness, and to balance constructive criticism with confidence in Pakistan’s future.
The minister called for stronger cooperation between universities and industry. He urged institutions to provide equal opportunities for women engineers, and encouraged Pakistani engineers working abroad to keep their links with the country through research, investment, knowledge sharing and international networks.
The message fits a wider push to build skilled talent. Pakistan has set a target of training one million AI professionals by 2030, and the government has opened schemes such as the PM Chromebook programme for 500,000 students to widen access to digital learning. Pakistani universities are also gaining ground abroad, with 90 institutions from Pakistan on the QS Asia University Rankings 2027 list.
For graduates, the same advice applies beyond engineering. Entry tests and admissions now decide careers early, and the Hyderabad board recently found 43 MDCAT mark sheets tampered with after a court ordered verification. HEC has also kept research routes open, including an overseas research fellowship offering up to $1,500 a month.
Concluding his address, Iqbal challenged the graduates to measure their careers by what they would have helped build when Pakistan celebrates its 100th anniversary of independence in 2047.
Frequently asked questions
What did Ahsan Iqbal tell UET graduates?
He said their degree only certifies what they have learned so far, and their careers will depend on how well they keep learning. He urged them to lead Pakistan’s economic transformation and make the country a success story by 2047.
What is “Gen 47 2.0”?
It is the name Iqbal gave the young engineers at the convocation. It links the generation of 1947, which secured independence, with today’s graduates, who must carry the country’s progress forward.
Which convocation was it?
The 33rd Annual Convocation of UET Lahore, held on November 10, 2026, at the UET Auditorium Complex. Governor Punjab Sardar Saleem Haider Khan attended as chief guest.
What is URAAN Pakistan?
It is the government’s economic transformation initiative. Iqbal linked it with industrial productivity, reliable energy, water management, climate-resilient infrastructure, digital transformation and agricultural technology.
What is Iqbal’s own link with UET?
He graduated in mechanical engineering from UET in 1981. As president of the Students Union that year, he organised the university’s convocation after a gap of 10 years.
