LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) on Wednesday appointed eminent biologist Prof Dr Ikhramul Haq as ‘Distinguished National Professor’ in recognition of his invaluable services in the field of botany and biotechnology. Prof Haq, who is professor emeritus at the Government College University (GCU), did his post-doctorate from the Cornell University, New York, and has written over 300 national and international publications and five books. GCU VC Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah and senior faculty of GCU have congratulated Prof Ikramul Haq, saying that he is the first one from GCU to be honoured by the HEC. Prof Ikramul Haq is also a recipient of Sitara-i-Imtaiz and three international awards, including the ISESCO Science and Technology Award 2016. He was also the founder director of the Institute of Industrial Biotechnology at the GCU, and also served as Faculty of Science and Technology dean at the GCU.