LAHORE: (Saturday, December 29, 2012): Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran has said that PU has set another record in academic history of Pakistan by producing more than 200 PhDs in a year. He said that probably no university in Pakistan had produced even 150 PhDs in a year but Punjab University was performing far better than all others and that the difference would widen in coming years.

He was addressing the 121st Convocation of Punjab University held at Faisal Auditorium here on Saturday. PU Registrar Prof Dr Khan Raas Masood, Controller Examinations Prof Dr Liaqat Ali, Chairman Convocation Committee Prof Dr Haris Rashid, Dean Faculty of Oriental Learning Dr Mazhar Moeen, heads of various departments, members of Syndicate and Senate, administrative officers, people from various walks of life and a large number of students were present on the occasion. For the first time in decades, the proceedings of convocation were held in Urdu language. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Kamran said that around 750 verses of Holy Quran, which is 1/8th of the Holy Book, stressed observation of natural phenomena and resolution of mysteries of the universe while the legislative verses were around 225; this reflected the importance of knowledge in the Quran. He said that knowledge was the source of power and respect but no nation could become knowledgeable without strength of character. He said that the average educational spending of the world was around 4-5 percent of GDP but we were reducing our spending on education.

He said that Pakistan's population was around 180 million and our GDP was around 200 billion dollars. He said that our population was increasing but unfortunately, our rulers had cut educational budget from 2 percent to around 1.5 percent of GDP. He said that knowledge had no value in Pakistan because our rulers did not realize the importance of knowledge for respectable survival in the world. He said that we were independent only because of atom bomb. He urged the government to eliminate corruption and extra expenses and allocate more money to education. He advised the students not to expect anything from rulers in this regard and spread knowledge on their own. He advised them to become masters of their subject, keep an eye on their own shortcomings, praise qualities of others and help each other. Earlier, degrees, medals and prizes were distributed among PhD, M Phil, Master's and BS Honor degree holder students.