LAHORE - Punjab University Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran has said around 1.5 billion Muslims in the world made almost no contribution in research during the past few centuries, ignoring the instructions of Holy Quran.
He was addressing the 2nd Convocation of University College of Pharmacy held here on Wednesday. Dean Faculty of Pharmacy and Principal Prof Dr Mubashar Ahmed Butt, Controller of Examinations Prof Dr Shahid Munir, Convener Dr Syed Nawazish-e-Hussain, faculty members, a large number of students and parents were present on the occasion.
As many as 138 degrees of Pharm D and three medals were distributed among the students. Nepal’s student Mr Ajay Ram Jayswal Kalkar got first position in Pharm D and was awarded with gold medal. Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mujahid Kamran said that legislative verses of the Holy Quran are about 250 but the numbers of verses that direct man to ponder upon nature are around 750, which reflects how much knowledge is important to Allah. He said the Muslims were facing problems because of deviation from this particular direction of the holy book.
“Knowledge is the only way to weed out terrorism, illiteracy and all other problems,” he stressed. Dr Mujahid said that the United States’ total GDP was 17 trillion and it was spending between 2 to 3 percent - 340 to 510 billion dollars on research and development per year, while Pakistan had a GDP of around 225 billion dollars only and was spending only around 0.2 percent on research and development per year. He said Pakistan was spending only 2 percent of its GDP on education while the average spending of the world on education was 5 percent. Congratulating the students, Dr Mujahid Kamran advised them to master their subjects, increase reading habits and cooperate with each other in practical life.
Addressing the ceremony, Dr Mubasher Ahmed Butt said that because of promotion of research culture and provision of better laboratories and other facilities to the students, the PU College of Pharmacy has become the first public sector academic institution which got ISO certification last year. He also thanked PU VC for his support in promotion of research in the college.
Earlier, 138 degrees and 3 medals were distributed among the qualified students.