ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 As many as 35 teachers from various universities were given the best university teacher award for playing an important role in enhancing the academic atmosphere during the year 2008.

Speaking at the award distribution ceremony organised by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Fauzia Wahab, MNA and central information secretary of the PPP, said teachers played an extremely important role in transforming a society. They are the mentors who unleash the creative talents of the students.

She said teachers are also a great source of inspiration for the students. “A good teacher ensures that students become responsible and patriotic citizens, who can differentiate between right and wrong,” she added. The award included a cash prize of Rs100,000.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, acting executive director HEC, said the process of selection was long and transparent which involved feedback of students, evaluation report by departmental heads, deans and vice-chancellors. The academic, research and creative work performance of the teachers was also evaluated, he added.

The award winners are Dr Sadiqur Rehman, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad; Dr Maqsood Ahmad, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta; Dr Sher Akbar, University of Balochistan, Quetta; Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi, AIOU Islamabad; Dr Abid Ali Minhas, Bahria University Islamabad; Dr Rubina Farooq, COMSATS Institute of IT Islamabad; Dr Mohammad Sher, International Islamic University, Islamabad; Dr Imran R. Chughtai, PIEAS, Islamabad; Dr Arshad Majid Mirza, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; Dr Irshad Ali, Gomal University, D. I. Khan; Dr Fida Younus Khattak, Kohat University of Science and Technology; Dr Farhatullah, NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar; Dr Azzamul Asar, UET, Peshawar; Dr Sardar Khan, University of Peshawar; Dr Mushtaq Ahmad, University of Science and Technology, Bannu; Dr Javed Iqbal Mirza, BZU, Multan; Dr Shazia Iftikhar, FJWU, Rawalpindi; Dr Farah Malik, GCU, Lahore; Dr Farhat Saleemi, Lahore College for Women University; Dr Shakeel Ahmad Qureshi, NCA, Lahore; Dr Abdul Khaliq Naveed, NUST, Rawalpindi; Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; Dr Nadeem Akhtar Abbasi, University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi; Dr M. Khaleequr Rahman, UET, Lahore; Dr Hashim Nisar Hashmi, UET, Taxila; Dr Fareed A. Minhas, University of Health Sciences, Lahore; Dr Tanveer Akhtar, University of the Punjab, Lahore; Dr Mohammad Ashraf, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore; Dr Mahnaz Fatima, IBA, Karachi; Dr Pushpa Sirichand, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro; Dr Mujeebuddin Memon, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro; Dr Syed Amir Iqbal, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi; Dr Noor Ahmed Memon, Quaid-i-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabshah; Dr Miandad Zardari, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur; Dr Shamasuddin Tunio, Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam, and Dr Abida Taherani, University of Sindh, Jamshoro.