LOWER DIR: Governor Haji Ghulam Ali has said that students can play a key role in the development of the country and meeting the challenges faced by the nation by focusing on their studies.

He was addressing the 6th convocation of University of Malakand as chief guest here on Monday. Caretaker Minister Shafiullah Khan and Vice-chancellor Prof Rashid Ahmad also addressed the function.

The governor awarded degrees to 173 graduates of bachelor, master, MPhil and PhD courses. He also conferred gold medals on 59 students.

He said that students and researchers should focus on their studies as they were the real ambassadors of the country abroad. He said that education was the only to resolve problems and face challenges.

The governor said that literacy rate in Korea was 97 per cent while in Pakistan it was only 11 per cent. He announced recruitment of a physically challenged graduate at university.

173 graduates awarded degrees at University of Malakand convocation

Addressing the function, Prof Rashid Ahmad said that the university started its journey in 2002 with less than 200 students in only seven disciplines. “Now it is offering education in more than 70 programmes at undergraduate level in its 30 departments,” he added.

He said that more than 10,000 students were enrolled in the university. He demanded regularisation of contract employees, construction of a mosque and provision of gas and adequate funds to the university for purchase of five buses for the students.

Later talking to journalists, the governor said that he had responded to the letter sent to him by Election Commission of Pakistan regarding holding polls in KP. He said that security situation in the province was not favourable for elections.

Meanwhile, Islami Jamiat Tulba condemned the administration for closing the university for two days during the governor’s visit.

WHO: The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s country representative, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, on Monday inaugurated a nutrition stabilisation centre for newborns and a water filtration plant at district headquarters hospital in Timergara.

The WHO team visited different units of the facility. Dr PalithaMahipala also visited the labour room and announced to provide modern equipment, funds for its renovation and an ambulance to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Al-Khidmat Foundation Women Trust also distributed winter food packages among 200 families here.

Speaking at a function held here on Sunday, district president of trust Saima Muhsin and general secretary Shaista Azam said that price hike and inflation badly affected the lower and lower middle classes.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2023