ISLAMABAD: The National University of Modern Languages (NUML) held its 5th Convocation on Monday. Chancellor of the University President Mamnoon Hussain was the chief guest of the ceremony. In this convocation 182 students were conferred degrees and 15 gold medals were awarded to graduates of different programmes. Rector NUML Major General Ziauddin Najam (Retd), Director General NUML Brig Riaz Ahmed Gondal, Registrar, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments and a large number of students along with their parents attended the convocation. Speaking on the occasion President Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain said that it was a matter of great pleasure for him to attend the 5th convocation of the NUML as a chief guest. He congratulated the students, their parents and teachers on the successful completion of education and said that educated youth must come forward to eliminate extremism from the society. The President said that the NUML was playing a vital role in promoting languages in the country and due to the establishment of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC); the importance of the NUML had increased. He said that the President House cut down its expenses and gave a reasonable amount to the NUML to open its campus in Urumqi, China. He suggested that the NUML must enhance its academic relations with the Central European universities which would have a positive impact on the overall relations with these states. Earlier, the Rector NUML Major General Ziauddin Najam (Retd) welcomed the chief guest and highlighted the achievements and contribution made by the NUML in various fields of education, especially oriental and occidental languages, being one of the largest language universities in Aisa. He said the university had developed the first of its kind Writing Resource Centre in the country which would promote writing and research activities and facilitate the academia. He further added that the NUML had established its own think-thank, composed of former rectors, DGs, deans, directors and senior faculty members. He also highlighted that under the CPEC project, the NUML established a centre of excellence in Xinjiang province of China to impart learning of English and Urdu languages to the Chinese people. Another regional campus of the NUML had also been established in Gwadar to teach the Chinese language to the natives in view of trade and business through CPEC. The NUML, had currently, employed 130 PhD faculty members while 70 more PhDs were expected to complete their degrees by next year.