Hamdard University awards 868 degrees

Karachi
The Hamdard University awarded 868 degrees, including 12 PhDs, to graduates and researchers at its 19th convocation on Saturday.
On the occasion, 24 students who had secured first positions and eight other high achievers were awarded Hakim Mohammad Said gold medals.
The convocation ceremony was presided over by Sadia Rashid, the chancellor of Hamdard University.
Speaking on the occasion, the chairman of the Higher Education Commission, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, said the culture of training and research in education was lacking in the country. He said the founder of Hamdard University, Hakim Mohammed Said, had put high emphasis on training and research.
“We are making institutions after institutions and buildings after buildings, but not focusing on quality research, which is only way to progress in the modern world,” he said.
“The government alone cannot promote education in the country. The private sector too should come forward and play its part.”
Dr Ahmed said private stakeholders should take inspiration from Hakim Said who besides being a legendary philanthropist, was also a visionary hakim who realised the importance of education in building a nation and a country.
“Around 5.45 million children are still deprived of education in the country,” he said. “They can be educated only if philanthropists of the country come forward and put in their share in education like Hamdard and Hakim Mohammed Said did.”
Dr Ahmed said negligence of education was tantamount to damaging the country and the nation. However, he said it should also be made sure that the standard of education was maintained at all costs because sub-standard education was of no use.”
He said the country had been passing through a tumultuous phase and it was to the teachers and religious leaders to steer the Pakistani society towards the right path.
Praising Hakim Mohammed Said, Dr Ahmed said he had had the honour of spending time with him at Faisalabad campus and found him to be a legendary and visionary person.
Earlier, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan said the university had so far produced 23, 117 graduates including 103 PhDs.