Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has urged young engineers to lead Pakistan's economic transformation. In an Ahsan Iqbal speech delivered as chief guest at the convocation, or graduation ceremony, of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore on November 10, he said the country's future depends on graduates who combine technical skill with innovation, integrity and public service.
Iqbal gave the graduates a new label, calling them “Gen 47 2.0”, and gave them the task of turning Pakistan into a success story by 2047, the 100th anniversary of independence. He recalled that he had organised the UET convocation in 1981 as president of the students union, after a gap of ten years. He also paid tribute to his former teachers and to the parents who support their children's education.
Skills for a changing world
Iqbal said artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced materials and other emerging technologies were reshaping engineering and global competition. He encouraged graduates to adopt these tools while building independent thinking, sound judgment and the habit of learning throughout their careers. A degree, he said, records what a person has learned so far, while a career depends on how well they keep learning.
The minister said Pakistan must become better at designing, manufacturing and exporting competitive products and technological solutions. He tied this to the government's URAAN Pakistan initiative and named industrial productivity, reliable energy, water management, climate-resilient infrastructure, digital transformation and agricultural technology as areas where young professionals could contribute. Explaining what he called the “Maarka-e-Taraqi” vision, he said success should be judged by productive businesses, stronger institutions, meaningful jobs and better living conditions for people.
Integrity, industry links and women engineers
In the Ahsan Iqbal speech, the minister urged graduates to put meaningful contribution ahead of personal advancement, to build disciplined work habits and to keep their professional integrity. He stressed that engineers carry responsibility for public safety and should treat their knowledge, resources and authority as a public trust. He also asked young people to check information before sharing it, to avoid persistent hopelessness, and to weigh criticism alongside confidence in Pakistan's future.
The minister called for closer cooperation between universities and industry, and asked institutions to offer equal opportunities to women engineers. He encouraged Pakistani engineers working abroad to stay connected with home through research, investment, knowledge sharing and international networks. Ending his address, Iqbal challenged the graduates to judge their careers by what they helped build by the time Pakistan marks 100 years of independence in 2047.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Ahsan Iqbal ne UET Lahore ki convocation mein naujawan engineers se kaha ke woh Pakistan ki maeeshat ki tabdeeli ki qayadat karein. Unhon ne kaha ke degree sirf shuruaat hai, aur career ke liye soch samajh kar kaam karna aur seekhte rehna zaroori hai. Un ka paighaam hai ke ilm, imandari aur industry se rabta barhaya jaye, taake 2047 tak Pakistan kamyabi ki misaal bane. Aam ghar ke liye iska matlab hai ke engineering ke bachon ki mehnat aur hunar ki qadr barh sakti hai.
