Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain of Friday praised the Vice Chancellor and his team for the ongoing academic and infrastructural development at the GC University Lahore. He also announced a grant of Rs. 100 million for the University primarily to replicate the University’s clock tower along with a building on its New Campus at Kala Shah Kaku.

The minister was addressing an opening session of the University’s 21st convocation where he along with Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Syed Asghar Zaidi awarded degrees and medals to outstanding graduates.

In the opening session, the Vice Chancellor also granted the prestigious lifetime award to three alumni; Ch. Akhtar Rasool for his contributions to sports, Usman Peerzada for his work in theatre and Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman for his contributions to philanthropy.

Besides ten lifetime achievement awards to eminent alumni, a total of 1984 degrees would be awarded this year during the two-day convocation which included 667 MS/MPhil, 29 MSc and 1265 BA/BSc (Hons) degrees.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain said instead of mushroom growth of higher education institutions, they need to focus on the quality of education in colleges and universities. He also hinted at linking the federal grants to universities with their performance. The minister appreciated the role of extra-curricular activities at Government College University.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Zaidi shared the development, progress and achievements of the last year, saying that this year we completed 20 years as a university and we are celebrating it by initiating Rs. 580 million projects to improve student services at the University. He added that a comprehensive campus management system is being developed to automate most of the services of the University to facilitate students, and the University is also replacing and upgrading its redundant IT infrastructure.

Prof. Zaidi also told that the construction of a new girls’ hostel, swimming pool and grand mosque would also complete this year.

Earlier, the federal minister and vice chancellor presented Prof GD Sondhi Medal” for overall excellent performance to Muhammad Imran Yousaf and Adil Akram Awan, “Mohammad Idrees Medal” for Best English Debater to Zainab Zaman Talat, “Daud Ilyas Medal” for outstanding intermediate student to Mian Muhammad Talha and Anas Rehman, “Dr. Saeeda Karamat Medal” for Best Woman Graduate to Maria Mubarak and Memoona Imtiaz, “Waleed Iqbal Medal” for Best Parliamentary Speaker to Daud Ali Kharal, “Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif Medal” for Best Urdu Speaker to Tauseef Mehmood and “Madeeha Gohar Medal” for the Best Female Actor to Marukh Arshad, “Tariq Salman Khan Farani Medal” for best music student to Amanat Ali Bela, while “Thespian Medal” for excellent performance in Dramatics was conferred upon Mubashir Mehmood.

The vice chancellor also awarded the Ali Sadpara Medal to Moazzam Khan, and Fatima Jinnah Medal to Syeda Naima Kazmi.