ABBOTTABAD: About 578 graduates including PhD scholars were awarded degrees during the first convocation of Comsats University Abbottabad on Monday.

Dr Raheel Qamar, the rector of the university, who was chief guest on the occasion, gave away degrees to the graduates.

Speaking on the occasion, he advised the students to make their university proud by being hard working, innovative, committed and ethical. He said that the vast avenues of education and professional development were still waiting for them to discover the new horizons of attainment.

Dr Raheel appreciated the government and ministry of science and technology for their continuous support to promote higher education of international standard in the country. He also thanked army for providing its precious land for the Abbottabad campus of the university.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Arshad Pervaiz, the campus director, expressed his complete satisfaction over the performance of the university in the academics as well as research fields.

He said that Abbottabad campus of the university made great progress in the field of education and applied research.

He said that research by the university in environmental sciences, electrical engineering, development studies, management sciences, computer science, earth sciences, civil engineering, chemistry, pharmaceutical science and mathematics was recognised across the country.

Dr Arshad paid tribute to the services of founding rector of the university, SM Junaid Zaidi, Dr Haroon Rashid and Dr Khan Gul Jadoon for the development of the campus.

He said that different scholarships were provided to needy students for their smooth academic management.

He said that Abbottabad campus of the university always remained on the forefront during natural disasters like earthquakes and floods.

Dr Arshad said that currently concepts like “adopt a student”, “adopt a family”, and “adopt a village” were being introduced for long term rehabilitation of flood victims.

He pledged to make the Abbottabad campus of the university achieve the status of a world-class university, serving the entire world and standing firmly for its timeless values of meritocratic distinction and academic excellence.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2018