KARACHI: Over 1,900 scholars and students were awarded degrees at the 28th convocation of Hamdard University (HU) on Saturday.

Addressing the graduating class as the chief guest, former federal minister Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman urged students to dedicate their lives to the pursuit of excellence, innovation and research.

“In today’s world, knowledge — rather than natural resources — has become the defining force behind economic growth and national progress,” he said, while citing breakthroughs in the fields of genomics, materials engineering, medicine and stem cell technology that have produced wonders considered unimaginable only a few years ago.

He pointed out that newly developed products with anti-ageing properties had now made it biologically possible for humans to attain a lifespan of 100–120 years.

“Scientists have discovered that thoughts are not abstract entities but are comprised of molecules and atoms,” he noted while discussing the rapid progress in neurology.

He referenced the pioneering work of Elon Musk’s Neuralink, noting that the US Food and Drug Administration had already sanctioned the use of brain-chip interfaces.

During the ceremony, a total of 1,912 students were conferred degrees in various disciplines. Eleven and 110 scholars awarded PhDs and MPhil degrees, respectively.

Thirty-five students were awarded gold medals, while five students were named winners of the Hakim Mohammed Said Gold Awards. Three students received medals from the Institution of Engineers, Pakistan.

Individual faculty achievements were also recognised: the Researcher of the Year Award was conferred upon Prof Syed Mubeen, and the Best Teacher Award was presented to Dr M. Faris.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was granted to Prof Kamran Zaheer in recognition of his contributions to academia.

In his speech, Vice Chancellor Prof Imran Amin stated that HU’s alumni network had reached 37,500 and that the university disbursed scholarships worth Rs219 million over the last year.

He also detailed the progress of various faculties and the creation of five new student clubs designed to act as incubators for leadership and civic responsibility.

Chancellor Sadia Rashid urged the graduates to remain mindful of their responsibilities as citizens. “My message to you is simple, yet profound: help people as you move ahead in life,” she remarked.

She encouraged the graduates to let compassion guide their actions, treating others with dignity and fairness, and to ensure their education becomes a lasting source of benefit for society.

Published in Dawn, February 15th, 2026