LAHORE: The top position holders in Punjab University’s BA, BSc annual examinations, 2014, say they will go for higher studies.

They attribute their distinction to regular studies with utmost focus on books and conceptual understanding and guidance from teachers and parents. Speaking to Dawn, BSc top position holder Saba Khalid said she had also stood first in matriculation examination in Gujranwala board in 2010. She repeated the achievement in intermediate (ICS group) examination in Gujranwala board in 2012. In her graduation, she took up double math and statistics and now she plans doing an MSc in statistics. She said she never took tuitions.

Atiqa Fakhar, who earned the second position, said she had studied double math and computers and now she would get admission to Punjab University’s mathematics department and go for studies till the completion of PhD. She said she wanted to do research in the field of mathematics and earn name for herself and the country in the world. “Mt motto is – work, work and work,” she added.

Sumiya Munir, the third position holder, said she had graduated with double math and physics. She said she wanted to pursue her higher education in physics at Punjab University’s physics department.

The top position holder in BA examination, Ayesha Mairaj, said she earned position with Islamiyat, Arabic and Persian subjects. She said that she would be joining Punjab University’s human resource management department for higher studies. She said that she earned position with focused and regular studies.

PRIZE DISTRIBUTION: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Mujahid Kamran distributed shields and prizes among top position holders of BA, BSc annual examination for 2014 on Thursday.

The top three position holders in science and humanities groups were awarded cash prizes of Rs100,000, Rs75,000 and Rs65,000, respectively.

The VC also announced a reward of Rs500,000 for the examination staff for preparing results of 133,223 students in less than four months.

Addressing the prize distribution ceremony, Dr Kamran said the Muslims were sleeping while the United States was ruling the world on the basis of research with its presence in 152 countries. He said no one could become knowledgeable without the strength of character.

He said none of the Pakistan governments in the past spent more than two percent on education and there was need to invest in education, new knowledge and training for the country’s uplift. He accused bureaucracy for not allowing Pakistan to stand on its feet.

Dr Kamran said it was noteworthy that all the position holders were private candidates and it reflected the standard of education in public sector colleges. He congratulated students, their relatives and teachers for their success.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2014