Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has vowed that there will be no political interference in appointment of vice chancellors and deans at universities, saying the government believes in merit and transparency.

Addressing the Punjab University’s second phase of 126th convocation at Faisal Auditorium on Saturday, Sarwar said that the principle of merit, transparency and accountability must be followed for improving international ranking of universities. He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team considered the youth as the most valuable asset of Pakistan. He said that the government would extend full support to universities for improving their international ranking.

He said that the government had high expectations from the youth, and added that it was a top priority of the government to equip the youth with education.

“We must follow the teachings of Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam for progress and prosperity of our country,” he said, adding that the development of nations was linked with education. The nations who spent their energy on education find respect and rule the world, he added.

He advised the students to give maximum respect to their parents because it was their effort and prayers due to which they had achieved excellence in their career.

“After I stepped down as the Punjab governor in 2013, I deeply regretted for not being the part of the Punjab University convocation,” he recalled.

He said that PU was a great institution and he was proud of being PU’s Chancellor. He said that it was a matter of great pleasure for him that he had come to PU.

In his address, PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad said that PU administration was making efforts to bring PU among top 400 universities in the world. He said that the government had organized meetings of all statutory bodies and Senate’s meeting was held after 11 years for smooth functioning of the university affairs. “In five months, the university had promoted faculty members who were awaiting their promotions and new appointments had been made 100 percent on merit.”

Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin, PU acting Controller of Examinations Rauf Nawaz, Registrar Dr Muhammad Khalid Khan, Additional Controller Raja Shahid Javed, Syndicate and Senate’s members, deans of various faculties, professors and a large number of MPhil/Phd scholars and their parents were also present.

Published in Daily Times, November 11^th 2018.