141 BS, MPhil, PhD students awarded degrees

LAHORE: Chairman Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and Founder Akhuwat Foundation Dr Amjad Saqib has said that there is no shortage of resources in the country but there is a need for proper use.

He was addressing a degree-awarding ceremony organised by Punjab University School of Economics at a local hotel here on Sunday. Degrees were distributed among 141 students of BS Economics, MPhil and PhD.

On this occasion, former Finance Minister Dr Hafeez A. Pasha, PU VC Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashif Anwar, Dean Faculty of Business, Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof Dr Mumtaz Anwar Chaudhry, faculty members, students and their parents were present. In his address, Amjad Saqib said that the main reason for the imbalance in the society was the unfair distribution of wealth. He said that one should spend according to their needs for a better life. He said that economists should take steps to promote entrepreneurship.

He said that it was possible to change society by connecting the knowledge of economics with ethics. Hafeez Pasha said that the economic conditions of Pakistan were on the way to improvement. He said that the acceleration in the stock exchange, the strengthening of the rupee and the record profits of the commercial banks were all positive indicators.

He said that after the elections, there would be more stability in the country's economy. Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood expressed hope that the graduates will strengthen the country's economy by playing a role in the field. Dr Mumtaz Anwar Chaudhry congratulated the graduating students and their parents on achieving important milestones in their lives.

14 students get scholarships

In the latest development, Punjab Ombudsman Maj (r) Azam Suleman Khan has interceded to provide outstanding educational scholarships worth Rs662,000 to students, who had encountered delays in receiving their scholarship amounts, from the Punjab government Servants Benevolent Fund Board. In a statement issued here on Sunday, the spokesman said that 14 applicants, hailing from various districts, had lodged complaints with the Office of the Ombudsman Punjab in this regard. They reported persistent efforts to secure their scholarships from the PBF but to no avail. Acknowledging the situation, the ombudsman directed the PBF to expedite the disbursement of the pending scholarships to the students without delay. In the wake of the ombudsman's intervention, the plaintiffs received their scholarships and thanked the ombudsman's office for its effective role in redressing their grievances.