ISLAMABAD: Almost 3,613 graduates of Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) on Tuesday were awarded with degrees while 74 students were given medals at the university’s 19th convocation. As many as 26 students received PhD degrees, 656 awarded with MPhil and MS degrees, 1,450 secured Masters degrees, while 1,481 students got undergraduate degrees in their respective disciplines. Gold medals were awarded to 49 students on their outstanding performance in their academic record while 13 bagged silver and 12 secured bronze in during the convocation ceremony. Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Yousaf Zafar was the chief guest while PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Sarwat N Mirza, China Huazhong Agriculture University delegation, deans, directors, faculty members, graduates and their parents also attended the ceremony. PARC Chairman Dr Yousaf Zafar urged the outgoing graduates to give their best input by applying the knowledge and skills they acquired during their academic life into practical endeavours for the prosperity and well being of the nation. He said that it was need of the hour to explore the potential of youth and use it for the development of science and technology which ultimately led to the well being of mankind. He also suggested the students to train their minds for logical and rational thinking to depict the level of high standard of education to meet with the international standards to compete the world. He appreciated the pace of the multidimensional development of PMAS-AAUR and stressed the need of concentrated research in agri-sector, especially in relevance to the arid areas. He congratulated the graduates and also distributed medals and gave away degrees to the graduates. Earlier, PMAS-AAUR VC Professor Dr Sarwat N Mirza in his welcome address said over 12,000 students were studying and 425,000 scholars were pursuing their doctorates in different disciplines in the university that was fast becoming one of the prestigious seats of learning in the country. “A number of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with various national and international organisations has also been signed for academic and research sharing. The provision of better research facilities encouraged the faculty to publish 346 research papers in national and international reputed journals,” he said. The vice chancellor said the university had allocated funds to enable staff and students to engage in research activities aimed at providing solutions to societal problems besides promoting and defending intellectual and academic freedom, scholarship and innovation in the field of education. Published in Daily Times, April 25th 2018.