LAHORE: The Punjab specialised healthcare & medical education minister and University of Health Sciences (UHS) pro-chancellor on Tuesday conferred degrees on 1,449 postgraduate candidates at the fourth convocation of the UHS.

The ceremony commenced with the conferment of postgraduate degrees, followed by the administration of the professional oath to the graduates by the university’s senior-most professor, Prof Nadia Naseem. Twenty-eight graduates with outstanding academic performance in different disciplines were awarded gold medals.

A total of 572 Master of Surgery (MS), 311 MPhil, 182 Postgraduate Medical Diplomas, 176 Doctor of Medicine (MD), 62 MS Nursing, 53 Master of Public Health (MPH), 40 Master in Health Professions Education (MHPE), 37 PhD and 16 Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degrees were conferred during the convocation.Former provincial health minister and former UHS vice chancellor Prof Dr Javed Akram, eminent gynaecologist Prof Dr Rashid Latif Khan, UHS Board of Governors Chairperson Prof Dr Farakhunda Wasim Afzal, former Punjab Health director general Dr Zahid Pervaiz, principals of leading public sector medical colleges, vice chancellors, and senior faculty members from medical, dental and nursing institutions attended the ceremony.

Addressing the convocation, minister Khwaja Salman Rafique congratulated the graduates and gold medalists on their academic achievements and described the occasion as a celebration of their hard work, dedication and perseverance.

He said the UHS had established itself as a leading public sector health sciences university, providing academic leadership to more than 200 affiliated institutions and playing a key role in strengthening medical education, research, curriculum reforms, faculty development and assessment systems in Pakistan.

He urged the graduates to uphold the highest standards of professional excellence, integrity, ethics and compassion throughout their careers, continue lifelong learning and always place patients’ welfare above all else. He also appreciated the efforts of UHS Vice Chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, faculty members, supervisors, examiners and the university administration for maintaining high standards in medical education and research.

PU: As many as 183 students were awarded the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm-D) degree, while 45 scholars received MPhil Pharmacy degrees in the 12th convocation of Punjab University College of Pharmacy on Tuesday.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, PU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mahmood Saleem, Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Prof Dr Hamid Saeed, Registrar Dr Ahmad Islam, College of Pharmacy Principal Prof Dr Nasir Abbas, Convener Prof Dr Furqan Hashmi, faculty members, graduates, parents and a large number of guests attended the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, July 22nd, 2026