ISLAMABAD, April 26: The Senate chairman, Muhammadmian Soomro, has urged the students to manifest socio-cultural mores in their practical lives besides exploring new avenues. "To me, education does not mean obtaining degrees but maintaining the standards of morality," he said.

He was speaking as chief guest at the convocation of Hamdard University, here on Monday. However, he asserted that the nation also needed professionals and scholars to make Pakistan an honourable country.

Of course, convocation is considered best time in one's life, however, it is also a day of resolve and commitment because practical life is all the more different than student life, where one faces a number of new challenges.

Referring to the HEC's scholarship schemes, the senate chairman said it was heartening to know that within next five years, five per cent of the total population would be receiving university education.

He also paid tribute to late Hakim Muhammad Said for transforming his dream into reality by establishing a university. Earlier, the vice-chancellor of the university, Muhammad Iqbal Qureshi said the institution was committed to prepare country's youth for the challenges of tomorrow.

He said the university was not a mere addition to the list of institutions but symbolized the hopes of nation by setting very high standards of professional education. Later, the Senate chairman gave away degrees to the successful students.