Vice Chancellor GCU distributes degrees among 34 positions holders

Lahore: The Government College University Lahore Saturday announced introducing a western concept of Professor of Practice, Writer in Residence and Artiste in Residence on the pattern of world top universities so as to benefit from the services of international and national scholars, writers and artistes of great eminence for a fixed time period who do not meet the customary requirements of university service but their outstanding acumen in their respective fields can enrich the University culture.

Addressing the second session of the university’s 14th Convocation, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah revealed the university’s Syndicate had approved the creation of above posts and appointments would be made against the posts soon after fulfilling the statutory requirements. He said that GCU was the first public sector university in Pakistan to introduce these positions.

As many as 996 students of BA/BSc (Hons) were awarded degrees at the second session on Saturday in which the Vice Chancellor also conferred medals and rolls of honor on the 34 position holders which included 14 females.

It is astonishing, the trend this year has reversed and only 14 female students secure top positions against 20 positions of boys, said GCU Controller of Examinations Dr Haroon Qadir, adding that for the last many years’ girls had outnumbered the body in the positions’ holders list.

The Vice Chancellor also revealed that the GCU Library and the US Consulate General Lahore have joined hands to set up Lincoln Corner at the GC University Lahore. “It will focus on two undisputed values that both US and Pakistan share i.e. education and democracy. The center will offer books, videos, US Govt. publications, magazines, internet and uninterrupted access to electronic-library databases of USA. It will also arrange lectures, workshops and cultural performances.

Congratulating the graduates, Prof Shah said “dear graduates, you have crossed an important milestone in your lives. It is time for you to look for a niche for yourselves in public life. It is now a challenge for you to retain the core values of ingenuity, prudence and diligence that you acquired while you were here at GCU and resist the onslaught of time which compels you to compromise your values and succumb to various social pressures.

The Vice Chancellor urged the students to bridge the gap between your ideals and the cruel realities of life. “Your success lies in your endurance and perseverance,” he concluded.

The 34 positions holders were Zulqarnain Khan, Zaira Saleem, Muniza Almas, Aqid Hussain, Muhammad Ashfaq, Khadeeja Ikram, Syed Mehran Hussain, Mannan Hassan Khan, Sameen Mashkoor, Ayesha Hanif, Yamin Razaq, Arslan Amjad, Rab Nawaz, Muhammad Saad Alam, Sarmad Siddiqi, Mehwish Malik, Aniqa Amer, Hira Zikrea, Anam Khan, Hassan Virk, Tahir Sohail, Sabaenah Salim, Ali Zeeshan Shah, Anam Elahi Bhutta, Ayesha Haroon, Hamza Ali Butt, Kamil Khan, Waris Ali, Toqueer Ahmed, Asad Hussain, Kiran Javaid, Attif Raza, Muhammad Bilal Rasool and Lubna Khalid.