RAWALPINDI:Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) here on Wednesday awarded degrees to 4,439 students of undergraduates, graduates, M.Phil and Ph.D scholars at its 22nd convocation organized for the outgoing batch of 2020 while 38 gold medals were also distributed among the students.
During the ceremony 37 students received PhD degrees, 1893 were awarded M.Phil and masters degrees, while 2509 students got undergraduate degrees in their respective disciplines. Around 38 students were awarded gold medals on outstanding performance in their academic record while 22 bagged silver and 18 secured bronze medals in the convocation. Two sponsored gold medals were also awarded by Bank of Punjab.
Minister for Higher Education, Punjab, Raja Yassir Humayun Sarfraz participated as a chief guest along with President Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Former Vice-Chancellor of PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr. Khalid Mahmood Khan (SI), PMAS-AAUR Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Qamar-uz- Zaman all deans, directors, faculty members, graduates and their parents.
In his address, Humanyun Sarfraz congratulated all the graduates, especially those who have got distinctions throughout their course of study and said that the fulfillment of the educated workforce required for economic and social development of the country should be among the explicit objectives of every educational concern.
The Minister said, “The contemporary age demands education based on science and technology, but we must add the blend of socio-cultural aspects while imparting knowledge that evokes respect for one’s culture, geography, history and national heritage.”
“We should provide education inspiring the spirit of nationalism in future generations and the government is working hard to provide quality and skill-based education to all,” he added.
Explaining the need for quality education, he said that the alma maters should not only be able to deter students intended abroad for quality education, but also develop themselves as destinations of educational excellence to attract foreign students thereby, boosting up the national economy.
He advised the students that they should not end their hard work and effort here but should make it more stable in their life which would not only brighten the name of Pakistan but also make the country prosperous.
He informed that the incumbent government was utilizing all available resources to promote quality higher education.
“International ranking of the universities in Punjab has seen a remarkable improvement during last three years when we joined only six universities in Punjab were ranked now this year, we have around 15 and this number is increasing every year,” he said.
Earlier, during his address, VC PMAS-AAUR, Prof. Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman read out a message from the Chancellor for the students to congratulate them for successfully completing and achieving their degrees.
In his address, Prof. Dr Qamar-uz-Zaman said that Arid Agriculture University made substantial efforts to improve academic and research activities along with enhancement of financial resources as the University had been awarded several development projects by provincial and federal governments amounting to Rs 5 billion.
While highlighting the university’s efforts towards quality education, faculty and students career-building he said that the university had successfully organized over a 100 International & National Workshops, Seminars, Conferences and Webinars and HEC allowed admissions to 28 more programs.
The strong link between academia and industry was the backbone of any country’s development for which the university had taken exemplary steps by organizing farmer’s fairs etc, he informed.
He also congratulated all the staff of the university and the students for the successful completion of 25 years of quality education and academic excellence.