Defence Day marked in KP’s educational institutions

PESHAWAR: The 50th National Defence Day was marked in educational institutions of the province with full enthusiasm and spirit on Sunday.
The educational institutions at the university campus, Peshawar, organised a joint walk and a subsequent function to mark the day and pay homage to the martyrs of the 1965 war. One-minute silence was observed which was followed by the national anthem and an impressive display of national songs from the police band.
The walk started from the Administration Block of the University of Peshawar (UoP) and culminated at the Law College Chowk.
Hundreds of students and staff members of different universities participated in the walkthat was led by Vice-Chancellor UoP Prof Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan, Agricultural University’s Prof Dr Zahoor Swati, Islamia College University’s Ajmal Khan, Director IM Sciences Dr Mohsin and Vice-Chancellor Sarhad University Dr Salimur Rehman.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Muhammad Rasul Jan paid tribute to the people and army for their sacrifices in the 1965 war. He said that currently the country was facing serious challenges both at the external and internal fronts. The anti-state elements were conspiring to destabilise the country, he said, adding that the whole nation and its security forces would have to remain united to foil the nefarious designs of the enemies.
He urged the youth to study day and night to make technological advancement for the self-sustainability and resilience of the motherland.
Dr Zahoor Swati said the nation had always stood firm to face every challenge. Ajmal Khan paid tribute to Major Yousaf, who was a student of the Islamia College and laid his life in the war.
A separate function was arranged at the historic Khyber Union Hall of Islamia College University to mark the day. Vice Chancellor Ajmal Khan, Registrar Prof Dr Sareer Badshah, Shabbir Ahmad, Principal Islamia Collegiate School, deans of academic faculties, chairpersons, head of non-academic departments, students and staff from university and its Islamia Collegiate School participated in the event. Speaking on the occasion, Vice-Chancellor Ajmal Khan highlighted the way the Pakistan armed forces defended the country in 1965 Pak-India war. He paid tribute to all those soldiers and officers who had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty for a brighter future of the nation. He called upon the young students to follow in the footsteps of those brave soldiers.