LAHORE: (Monday, February 24, 2024): Governor Punjab/Chancellor Punjab University Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has said that no incident of harassment and usage of drug in the universities will be tolerated at any cost. He said that the shortcomings of the semester system will also be addressed to deal with issues like harassment. For the first time in the history of PU, as many as 410 PhD degrees were awarded and 16 Chinese also got PhD degrees in the convocation.

He was addressing the Punjab University’s 134th Convocation ceremony at Faisal Auditorium here on Monday. On this occasion, PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood, Registrar Dr Ahmed Islam, Controller of Examinations Rauf Nawaz, deans, HoDs, professors and a large number of students and their parents were present. In his address, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said that all the female students studying in the universities are my daughters and I want to give them the same environment that I want for my daughters.

He said that no incident of harassment in the universities will be tolerated under any circumstances. He said that a Vice Chancellors’ conference is being organized soon to solve the problems of the universities. He said that PU is fortunate to have got Dr Muhammad Ali as VC, who has taken commendable steps in a very short period of time. He said that under the leadership of Dr Ali, the international ranking of PU will definitely improve. He said that without good qualities of a good character, a degree is of no use. He said that parents cut their pockets to teach their children, and now it is your responsibility to keep your parents like flowers. He said that it is a matter of honor and pride for me to attend the convocation of PU.

He congratulated the students who received degrees and medals, their parents and teachers. Dr Muhammad Ali said that PU has a zero tolerance policy against harassment and committed to provide a safe environment to female students. He said that by improving the financial model of PU, the financial deficit will be eliminated in the next two years. He said that the electricity costs will be reduced from 2 billion to 1 billion, for which solarization of campus is being done for the first time. He said that by the next year, efforts will be made to bring Punjab University among the top 500 universities. He said that 50% of the IT graduates in Pakistan are our graduates, which is a matter of pride for PU. He said that for the first time, digitalization of the university is being done in PU which will help improve financial and administrative matters along with provision of quality education. He said that efforts are being made so that no student should be deprived of education due to money. He said that various student societies are being mobilized to provide a pleasant educational environment to the students, promote co-curricular activities and highlight the qualities of character building. He said that top businessmen, bureaucrats, politicians, lawyers, journalists and professionals in Pakistan are graduates of Punjab University. As many as 254 medals were presented to MS/MPhil, undergraduate students. In the 134th convocation of PU, 1087 students of different departments were awarded certificates as well.