KARACHI: As many as 1,395 graduating students of Hamdard University were awarded degrees at the 21st convocation of the university held on its campus at Madinat al-Hikmah, an official said on Sunday.

He said 817 students received their degrees in person and 578 in absentia. Besides, he added, 13 PhD and 56 MPhil degrees were also awarded at the convocation.

The programme was presided over by Sadia Rashid, chancellor, Hamdard University.

Speaking on the occasion, she congratulated the graduating students and told them that their success was the fruit of struggles and sacrifices of their parents as well as their teachers.

“Once you start your career you and your work would contribute to the national pool of skilled manpower which would sustain you economically and socially in your life and would also contribute to the national wealth,” she added.

In his welcome address, Prof Hakim Abdul Hannan, vice chancellor of Hamdard University, said the university was imparting education in seven faculties of medical and health sciences, eastern medicine, engineering, management sciences, pharmacy, education and law in pursuit of excellence as per vision of Hakim Said.

According to the declaration of the Higher Education Commission, the university had got X-category, taking 75 per cent number, he said.

Apart from degrees 26 Hamdard University Gold Medals, eight Shaheed Hakim Mohammed Said Gold Medals and seven gold medals from the Institute of Engineering were also given to the students who got first position throughout their academic programme.

Chief guest and consul general of Japan Toshikazu Isomura, Chancellor Sadia Rashid and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hakim Abdul Hannan presented the degrees and gold medals to the students.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2017