RAHIM YAR KHAN: More than 1,200 graduates of the Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology (KFUEIT) were awarded degrees and 19 others got medals at the second convocation on Sunday.

As many as 500 students were awarded MPhil and MS degrees and 724 others received undergraduate degrees. Gold medals were awarded to 10 students for outstanding academic record and silver medals to nine high achievers.

KFUEIT Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Suleman Tahir distributed the medals and degrees among the students. Other participants included BZU VC Prof Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi, Ghazi University VC Prof Dr Muhammad Tufail, Okara University VC Prof Dr Muhammad Wajid, former PTI MNA Javed Iqbal Warraich, administration and faculty members.

Dr Tahir said that after the approval of service statutes, 300 regular faculty and staff members were appointed in the Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology and more than 65pc of them were PhD scholars. He said the institution achieved third rank in International SCIMAGO ranking and it stood among 200 to 300 institutions in International Times Higher Education ranking.

He said that after the positive changes in research activities in the university, more than 1,750 research articles were published in international journals. The research impact factor had increased from 510 to 5050 while more than 153 book chapters and 23 books were published. He said 29 NRPU projects were approved and more than Rs458 million research grants were achieved by the varsity. He said the students of the institution received the scholarships worth Rs1 billion.

Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman was invited as the chief guest at the convocation but he did not attend the ceremony. He presided over a political meeting with the PML-N leaders.

CHAMBER MEETING: The governor also participated in a Rahim Yar Khan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RYKCCI) event at the rest house of Chaudhry Munir.

RYKCCI executive member Asif Mehmood told Dawn that on a request, the governor assured the businessmen that he would ensure refuelling at the local airport of Saudi Arabian airlines wanting to start flight operations for Hajj and Umra.

The governor also discussed the matters of law and order in Sadiqabad tehsil and employees’ quota for Rahim Yar Khan residents at the Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Mr Mehmood said.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2022