Education as Weapon Against Extremism: Governor Sindh

Education, not force alone, is the most effective weapon against terrorism, Governor Sindh Muhammad Kamran Khan Tessori said, urging young Pakistanis to lead the country into what he described as a decisive phase of economic renewal. Speaking as the chief guest at the 17th convocation of Greenwich University, Tessori framed ignorance as the root cause of extremism and argued that sustained investment in education could dismantle the social conditions that allow violence to flourish.

The governor noted that Pakistan’s economy had already embarked on new paths of development and that after May 10, the country’s direction had become clearer. His remarks highlighted human capital, skills development, and technological advancement as key components for success in what he termed the “battle for the economy.”

Governor Sindh credited what he described as round-the-clock efforts by the prime minister and the country’s top military leadership for stabilizing economic indicators and restoring international confidence. According to him, global partners were increasingly acknowledging Pakistan’s economic measures, with tangible benefits expected to reach the public in the near future.

As an illustration of Pakistan’s improving international standing, the governor pointed to the rise in the global ranking of the Pakistani passport, which he said had moved from 126th to 97th position. While welcoming the progress, he cautioned that sustained effort would be required to further strengthen the country’s image and credibility abroad.

The presence of foreign diplomats at the ceremony, including consuls general from the United States, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, was, in his view, another signal that Pakistani universities were gaining recognition on the global stage. He described Greenwich University as a source of pride and called on the business community and university administration to expand scholarship programs for talented and deserving students.

A significant portion of Governor Tessori’s address focused on women’s education. He praised female students for winning a large share of gold medals at the convocation and urged parents not to limit their daughters’ academic achievements to framed degrees or display cabinets. Instead, he said, families should encourage women to apply their education in professional and public life so they could play an active role in national development.

Highlighting initiatives at the Governor House, Kamran Tessori said that nearly 50,000 children were currently enrolled in artificial intelligence courses designed to meet international standards. These programs, he noted, had been benchmarked against leading global institutions, reflecting Pakistan’s intention to compete in emerging technologies rather than remain on the margins of innovation.

The governor also sought to redirect attention toward those he called the “true guests of honor” of the ceremony: parents and teachers. Their sacrifices, he said, had created opportunities for students to pursue higher education in a challenging economic environment. Addressing the graduates directly, Tessori urged them to reject despair and embrace discipline, perseverance, and tolerance. He called on young people to foster mutual respect and social harmony, saying that being a good professional must go hand in hand with being a responsible and ethical Pakistani.

The convocation concluded with the awarding of degrees to students across multiple disciplines. Twenty-five candidates received doctoral degrees, 70 earned master’s degrees, and 501 were awarded undergraduate qualifications. Thirty-two high-achieving students received gold medals, while honorary doctorates were conferred on Senator Sarmad Ali, media executive Georges Seja, and other notable figures.

As the ceremony ended, the message from the podium was clear: Pakistan’s future, in the governor’s telling, hinges not only on economic policy but also on classrooms, campuses, and the choices made by a new generation stepping into public life.