LAHORE, Jan 1: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has made an impassioned appeal to country's rulers urging them to allocate at least four per cent of the GDP for educational advancement if they really want to see Pakistan as an honourable member of the world community and attain socio-economic dominance.

Speaking at Punjab University's 119th convocation at its Faisal Auditorium on Saturday, Prof Kamran said the world was a battleground where nations incessantly compete with each other for supremacy. “Only a country having superiority in the field of education and research can emerge victorious in this eternal confrontation,” he said.

The vice-chancellor blamed the ruling class for failing to realise the key role of education in nation building. All technologically advanced countries spend five to seven per cent of their GDPs on educational promotion, while Pakistan was spending only 2 per cent of its GDP for the purpose.

Stating there was an acute paucity of 'scientific manpower' in the country, he said Pakistan was the first and only atomic power of the Muslim world while it was ranked fifth in publication of research theses.

Stating the real rulers in US were filthy rich bankers, Prof Kamran said the Roshdale family alone possessed wealth amounting to 500 trillion dollars as against American GDP of 14 trillion dollars. He said it was not difficult for this bankers' clique to control American and European governments. He said this gang had formulated a strategy to control American masses, who were very good natured, sincere and open-minded. He held this mafia responsible for the hardships the masses were facing as it was bent upon taking over entire wealth of nations. In this scenario, he said, the Muslim should strictly abide by Islamic ideology to rid themselves of this exploitative gang.

He said he specifically worked to promote research culture in the university and raised budget allocation for research from Rs5 million in 2008 to Rs70 million for the current financial year. Stating that only 734 PhDs were produced in 17 years from 1990-2007, the vice-chancellor said, the PU during the last three years had done enviable hat-trick of over 100 PhDs every year. He said the PU produced 105 PhDs in the first year of his tenure in 2008, 126 in 2009 and 108 PhDs in 2010.

Prof Kamran said the PU's research output in impact factor and HEC recognised journals, publication of books by faculty members, representation of PU in international conferences abroad and achievements in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities had registered a significant increase during his tenure as VC.

He said the PU students had won 146 individual prizes and 32 team trophies in 2009 while 16 trophies and 81 individual prizes were grabbed during 2010. Lauding the graduates, the vice-chancellor stressed that they should achieve perfection in their respective fields of specialisation.

Later, the vice chancellor presented medals and degrees to the graduates. As many as 790 male and female graduates, including MPhil and PhD scholars, and 203 medalists received their degrees at the convocation.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Jamil Anwar Chaudhry, Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Akhtar, Controller of Examinations Dr Zahid Karim Khan, all faculties' deans, principals, directors and heads of departments were present on the occasion.