The students of UoS and BZU Multan win the CM’s Qiraat and Naat Contest

Lahore: The students from University of Sargodha (UoS) and Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) Multan Thursday won the Chief Minister’s Qiraat and Naat Contest among the public sector universities of Punjab. The contest was organised by the Government College University Lahore under the auspices of the Punjab government.

Addressing the opening ceremony, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said that the Holy Quran and the Prophet’s (PBUH) Seerah embody the strongest message for the world peace which can be aesthetically packaged through the art of the recitation of the Holy Quran and Naat. He appreciated the efforts of the Punjab government to showcase the talent of the students of colleges and universities for the promotion of Qiraat and Naat. “Their patronage at the government level will provide them the necessary impetus to align themselves with these classical Muslim art forms,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the member GCU Syndicate, MPA Khurram Ijaz Chahtta said that Qiraat and Naat are the best medium for the projection of love of Prophet Muhammad (PUBH) and spiritual elevation of Muslims. He recalled his student life at GCU, saying this great institution had honed the intellectual skills of millions of students over the last 152 years.

According to the final results, UoS student Hafiz Umair Abid secured first position in Qiraat, while Hafiz Asaad Sharif from Punjab University and Hafiz Ata-ul-Mustafa from GC University Faisalabad stood second and third respectively.

In Naat contest, Hasnain Haider from BZU, Muhammad Hassan GCU Faisalabad and Ehtisham Ul Haq from Khawaja Fareed University Rahim Yar Khan secured the first, second and third positions respectively.

Additional Secretary Higher Education Dr Shoiab Anwar announced that Punjab Chief Minister Main Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif would honour the winners of the competition with cash awards amounting Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 for first, second and third positions respectively in Qiraat and Naat separately.

Talking to media, the winners said that the central theme of the Holy Quran is the holistic welfare of mankind. The devotees of Islam who have staunch love for the last Prophet Muhammad (PUBH) ought to reflect this message in their conduct for the world.