334 awarded degrees at UoP convocation

PESHAWAR: A total of 334 graduates, MPhil and PhD scholars were awarded degrees at the annual convocation of the University of Peshawar on its foundation day on Wednesday.

Some 18 students were awarded gold medals for their distinguished performance in their master’s degree programme.

Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi was the chief guest on the occasion.

In his speech, the minister praised the performance of the acting vice-chancellor University of Peshawar in his three-month time. He pointed out that it’s time for other universities to emulate the university reforms pattern.

He thanks relentless efforts by the university vice-chancellor and other officials concerned for community and university uplift in recent times. The minister affirmed his commitment for continuously funding the University of Peshawar and public sector universities despite federal government step-mother treatment by not releasing 2,000 billion rupees due to the province.

Meena Khan Afridi announced that all eligible teaching faculty, including PhD lecturers, will be given promotions as a due right.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad NaeemQazi, presenting a performance report, stated that continued reforms were the only lifeline for struggling universities. He paid rich tribute to departmental heads for commencing 19 new disciplines. He reiterated his commitment to ensure a peaceful and academic environment to ward off traffic congestion, drug usage, Noise pollution, illegal hostel occupancy and mafia’s nefarious designs at the university campus. The vice-chancellor thanked the chief minister and higher education minister for supporting reforms and helping university endeavors during the last three months.