Focus on quality research in medical varsities

LAHORE:Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the journey of serving the people will continue.

The minister was speaking at the sixth convocation of Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore as chief guest. A total of 327 students were awarded certificates in the convocation, including 299 undergraduate students and 28 postgraduate students.

The minister said, 'Mother of the Nation, Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, led the way in representing women in the Pakistan Independence Movement. I am proud that my ancestors contributed to the foundation of this country.'

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that medical education is very important in Pakistan. The Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme is the flagship project of the Punjab government.

The medical system of Punjab is the best in Pakistan, thank God. Under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif, Fatima Jinnah Medical University, Rawalpindi Medical University, Faisalabad Medical University and Nishtar Medical University were founded.

He said the Punjab government is building Asia’s largest Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Centre in Lahore at a cost of Rs82 billion, while the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha at a cost of more than Rs10 billion. Special attention is being paid to quality research in government medical colleges of Punjab, the minister said and congratulated the successful fresh graduates, post-graduates and their parents. King Edward Medical University VC Prof Mahmood Ayaz attended the event as the guest of honour. Heads of public and private educational institutions, vice chancellors, principals, professors and members of AFJOG also attended the convocation.

Principal Professor Abdul Hameed administered the oath of service to humanity to the undergraduate students and Registrar Prof M Nadeem administered the oath of service to humanity to the postgraduate students.

Dr Barira Sohail also won the honour of being the best graduate. Deans Prof Ayesha Malik, Prof Bilqis Shabbir, Prof Alia Zahid, Prof Naveed Akbar Hatiana, Prof Shumaila Ejaz Munir, heads of departments, university faculty and a large number of professors were also present on the occasion. At the convocation, Dr Barira Sohail, Dr Sakina Batool, Dr Barira Muzaffar, Dr Sara Adnan Bakhtiar, Dr Gulnoor Aqeel Dar, Dr Rubab Fatima, Dr Suman Shahzad, Dr Kaneez Fatima, Dr Ayesha Saeed, Dr Misbah Masood, Dr Ashmal Adeel Chaudhry and Dr Ayeesh Abdul Samad were awarded gold medals for their excellent performance.

Guest of Honour Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Prof Mahmood Ayaz said that the success of a person lies in serving humanity. He said that becoming a doctor and a surgeon is not enough, but serving the suffering of humanity leads to perfection. Doctors can earn paradise in this world by serving patients, he added.