LAHORE: (Thursday, May 17, 2012): Punjab University has issued an honorary PhD degree to mainstream Turkish scholar, thinker, prolific writer, poet and opinion leader Muhammad Fethullah Gulen in a ceremony organized at Undergraduate Study Centre here on Thursday.

On behalf of Chief Minister Punjab, Minister for Planning and Development Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Higher Education Zaeem Qadri, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, President Journalists and Writers Foundation Mustafa Yesili, Registrar Prof Dr Khan Raas Masood, Maria I Maldonado, a large number of faculty members, columnists, analysts and people from various walks of life participated on the occasion. While addressing the ceremony, Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said that it was pleasurable to award an honorary degree to Muhammad Fethullah Gulen who was world’s renowned scholar. He said that PU was breaking with the tradition of awarding honorary degrees to political leadership.

He said that last honorary degree was awarded to the-then Turkish president in 1986 and now 26 years later we were awarding it to a Turkish scholar. He said that it indicated that our hearts throb with Turkish nation and Turkish people were general leaders of the Muslim world, intellectually and politically. He said that in scientific research publications in Islamic world, Turkish stood number one. He said that the contribution of Mr Gulen towards the cause of education was deep, significant and worldwide. He said that Mr Gulen had a message for the Muslims also particularly relevant to today’s Pakistan. He said that message was that we were human being first and anything afterwards. He said that according to his message, we must deal with each other as human being with respect and passion and we must learn to resolve our differences peacefully and with tolerance. He urged the rulers to allocate at least four percent of GDP towards education and 1 percent to research and development.

He said that Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif was a great admirer and lover of Turkish people and said that Turkish people had great strength of character. Provincial Minister Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor said that today’s event was a global and significant event. He congratulated Punjab University for conferment of PhD degree on Turkish scholar. He said that we had the required potential to progress and Turkey was supporting us in various projects. He said that Mr Gulen had inspired young generation towards positive activities. While addressing the ceremony, Mr Zaeem Qadri informed the participants about Punjab government’s revolutionary steps like Danish School, Punjab Education Endowment Fund, Laptop scheme, recruitment of 75 thousand teachers on merit, establishment of computer labs etc.

He said that without balanced educational system, we could not eliminate social problems. President Journalists and Writers Foundation Mustafa Yesili thanked Punjab government and Punjab University for precious gift of honorary PhD degree. The message from Mr Gulen was read as he could not come to Pakistan because of illness. Later on his behalf, President Journalists and Writers Foundation Mustafa Yesili received Phd Degree. A presentation on the services of Mr Gulen was also screened on the occasion.