Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Zahoor Ul Haq has said that universities are, in essence, credible institutions of scientific and social research. He emphasized that promoting a scientific mindset and analytical thinking among students is the foremost responsibility of the University of Gujrat (UOG). The true success of a university, he said, lies in becoming the focal point of student-centered activities that contribute to their intellectual and cognitive development.
Prof. Dr. Zahoor Ul Haq stated that UOG is fully committed to utilizing all available resources to advance the academic and research excellence of its students, who are the true stakeholders of the university. Giving priority to the enhancement of scientific research, the university will spend Rs. 80 million this year on improving laboratory research facilities. Additionally, Rs. 100 million will be invested in IT equipment, Rs. 20 million for the establishment of a gymnasium, and Rs. 500 million for the purchase of 20 new buses to expand transport facilities. Furthermore, scholarships worth Rs. 250 million have been awarded to deserving and hardworking students.
He also announced that in the domain of development projects, Rs. 480 million will be allocated this year for the renovation and restoration of infrastructure in various academic blocks. Prof. Dr. Zahoor Ul Haq urged faculty members and students to remain committed to pure scientific research and to publish their work in reputable academic journals to bring further prestige to the University of Gujrat.
Prof. Dr. Zahoor Ul Haq expressed these views while addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day national workshop organized by the Department of Chemistry titled “Microbial Fuel Cell Technology for Sustainable Energy Production in the Future.”
The workshop was jointly organized by ORIC, the Bioelectroanalytical Laboratory of the Department of Chemistry, and the Molecular Biology Laboratory of the Department of Zoology. The resource persons included Prof. Dr. Hamid Mukhtar (Director OEC, GC University Lahore), Dr. Syed Ali Raza (Water Resources Zone, Government of Punjab), Dr. Muhammad Waseem Mumtaz, and Dr. Tahir Iqbal. Dr. Humayun Afridi served as the coordinator of the workshop, which was held under HEC’s NRPU Project No. 14751.
The primary objective of the workshop was to provide students with practical training and research experience on various experimental techniques and methods related to bioelectricity generation through wastewater treatment.
The concluding session was attended by distinguished guests including Prof. Dr. Adil Rasheed (Director ORIC), Dr. Muhammad Asim Raza, and Dr. Razia Iqbal. Students from various departments of UOG, as well as from different universities across Punjab, participated in the workshop and received hands-on training in multiple sessions.
At the closing ceremony, Prof. Dr. Zahoor Ul Haq presented commemorative souvenirs to the organizers, laboratory training assistants, resource persons, advisors, and supervisors, while certificates of completion were awarded to the participating students.