PESHAWAR, May 18: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has stressed the need for serious efforts to stop political activities in educational institutions.

“People who indulge in politics in universities not only harm the educational process but also create security hazards; they must be discouraged,” the governor said in his speech at the 14th convocation of the College of Home Economics, which is affiliated the University of Peshawar, here on Thursday.

Besides distributing degrees among 429 graduates, the governor gave away gold medals to Mumtaz Begum Neelaf Akbar, Naila Akbar, Saima Lateef, Aisha Zakir and Gulnaz for passing with distinction.

When he was a student, he said, there were student’s bodies in universities whose main purpose was to promote healthy activities, but now students were suffering because of the politicised environment in education institutions.

Such activities could not be allowed, he added.

The governor said the government was pursuing a liberal policy which stressed women’s education and human resource development.

He praised enthusiasm of girl students for quality education and said that it was apparent from the merit lists of educational institutions and board examinations that girls were doing better than boys.

Referring to points raised by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Haroon-ur-Rasheed about the need for expansion of the university, the governor said that there were some problems because of concentration of educational institutions at one place.

Dr Simin Mahsud, principal of the college, said besides their excellent academic performance, students of the college had also done well in various national competitions and other extra-curricular activities.

She also spoke about expansion and development requirements of the college.