F.P. Report
MIRPUR: Sardar Masood Khan, President Azad Jammu and Kashmir has said that our Government is focusing on investing in research-based quality education and developing a culture of meritocracy in educational institutions throughout Azad Kashmir.
The President who is also the Chancellor of public sector universities of AJK made these remarks while addressing the 3rd Convocation of Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) here in Mirpur.
The President on the occasion congratulated the students on the successful completion of their degrees. He also extended his felicitations to the leadership, management, faculty and the parents of the students. He said that this is indeed a milestone in their academic careers and today also marks a beginning of a new journey. He said a challenging new life of professional competition awaits them.
Reiterating the need to invest in their education, the President said that you should be problem solvers and attain the latest knowledge based on research and innovation. He said that we need to also invest in developing our human resource in order for them to compete in the ever-changing international job market.
President Masood Khan said that promotion of science and technology will play a pertinent role in nation-building and economic progress of our country. He congratulated the University on the establishing a state of the art Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, which is the 13th of its kind in Pakistan. He also commended the efforts of the University for their effective consultancy in Mangla Dam, introducing Chinese language courses for its students and helping provide technical and medical facilities through its Tele-Medicine Services in collaboration with Healthcare for All International, UK.
He said that MUST has given adequate exposure to its students and faculty at national and international levels through its outreach programs, scholarships, international conference and seminars. He said in just 9 years the university has achieved many milestones including a 91.52 score in the Higher Education Commissions’ quality guide league table and highest position in the HEC Quality Enhancement ratings.
President AJK also said that along with academics, it is pertinent to inculcate character-building and values. The President advised the students to value truthfulness and to always be faithful towards our Creator, parents, country and its people. He added that every student must concentrate on self-development, self-improvement and prepare themselves for roles as global citizens. “Exude confidence through competence and let these moral values be your guiding compass”, he said.
Speaking to his audience he said AJK and Pakistan is going through a transformative phase of economic development. Pakistan, he said, will be among the top 10 economies of the world by 2050. He added that AJK’s Government is focusing on developing its road infrastructure, energy projects, tourism and telecommunications. He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will act as a catalyst in advancing our economy as already 4 projects including two hydropower projects, an Expressway and a Special Economic Zone have been planned under this project.
The President strongly condemning the human right violations being perpetrated in Indian Occupied Kashmir said that India has denied the Kashmiri’s their right to self-determination. He said Indian forces are killing, maiming, torturing and using sexual violence as a means to subdue the unarmed freedom struggle in IOK. He said that our struggle will continue, and we shall never be intimidated by the malicious tactics used by India.
President Masood Khan also awarded gold medals to the high achievers and congratulated them on their remarkable achievement.
The event was attended by Vice Chancellor MUST Prof. Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman, Vice Chancellors of other AJK Public Sector Universities, Registrar MUST Engr. Prof. Muhammad Waris Jiraal, Dean Science Prof. Dr. Rehana Asghar, Dean Engineering Prof. Dr. Anwar Khataab, Dean Faculty of Arts Prof. Dr. Maqsood Chaudhry, Commissioner Mirpur Division Muhammad Tayyeb, DIG Police Mirpur Division Sardar Rashid Naeem, faculty members, a large number of students and their parents.
