RAWALPINDI, May 14: There is no better way for young graduates to pay back their debt to the nation than treating patients in agony.

This was stated by Dr Attaur Rehman, Chairman Higher Education Commission, while speaking at the 25th convocation of Army Medical College (AMC) here on Wednesday.

Admiring the present era of science and technology, he said the pace of technological and scientific growth in the field of medicine was tremendous. Miraculous developments in biotechnology, genetic engineering, pharmaceutical sciences and nanotechnology are transforming health care in a revolutionary manner. Telemedicine has opened new vistas of patient care by making state-of-the-art medical support available to the remote areas of the world. In the prevailing scenario, it is particularly imperative for the new graduates to make full use of their talent in meeting the modern day challenges. “We must strive to improve the quality of technological education and research in our institutions,” he added.

As many as 158 students were conferred upon degrees. In MBBS course, a total of 118 students appeared in the exam and the pass percentage remained 94. As many as 48 of them were commissioned in the army. In BDS, 30 cadets appeared in the exam, out of whom three were commissioned in the army.

Eight gold medals including President’s Gold Medal for the Best All Round Student, COAS Gold Medal for the Best Military Student and Rector’s Gold Medal for the Best Student in Academics were awarded to Eishaa Hanif Chaudhry, 26th MBBS course; while Uzair Luqman, 5th BDS course, was awarded five gold medals including President’s Gold Medal for the Best All Round Student and Rector’s Gold Medal for the Best Student in Academics.

Speaking on the occasion, Maj-Gen Taswur Hussain, Principal of the college, said the University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) had upgraded its labs, library and R&D infrastructure, thereby, promoting research culture in the college. He said the college had also initiated postgraduate programmes in medical sciences including doctoral programmes in basic medical disciplines besides taking several steps to enhance the research facilities.

New laboratories have been set up and huge quantities of latest laboratory equipment procured. A large number of postgraduate students, both from the civil sector and from the armed forces, are utilising these facilities.

Rector NUST Lt-Gen Mohammad Asghar said NUST was established about fourteen years ago with the objective of speedy attainment of capability in the newly emerging fields of sciences, engineering and technologies and thus develop competent scientific and technical manpower having international level of higher education to meet country’s public and private sector needs.