KARACHI: More than 1,900 students were awarded PhD, MPhil, Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees at the 28th convocation of Hamdard University, marking a significant academic milestone for the institution.
Celebrated scientist and former federal minister Atta-ur-Rehman attended the ceremony as chief guest and addressed the graduating class, urging them to dedicate their lives to excellence, innovation and research. He said that in the contemporary world, knowledge rather than natural resources had become the defining force behind economic growth and national progress.
He remarked that intellectual capital, not mineral wealth, now served as the primary engine of growth, adding that countries investing in emerging fields of science and technology were advancing rapidly, while those failing to innovate risked falling behind. He cited breakthroughs in genomics, materials engineering, medicine and stem cell technology, stating that rapid scientific progress had led to developments once considered unimaginable.
Referring to advances in neurology, he said scientists had discovered that thoughts were composed of molecules and atoms. He also mentioned the pioneering work of Neuralink, noting that the US Food and Drug Administration had sanctioned the use of brain-chip interfaces. Reflecting on the origins of life, he said that elements formed during supernova explosions eventually came together to form planets and human life, adding that humans were, in a literal sense, made of stardust.
According to details shared at the ceremony, 11 scholars were awarded PhD degrees and 110 received MPhil degrees, while a total of 1,912 students were conferred degrees in various disciplines. Thirty-five students were awarded gold medals for outstanding performance across the university’s seven faculties. Five students received the Hakim Mohammed Said Gold Awards, and three were presented medals by the Institution of Engineers, Pakistan.
The Researcher of the Year Award was conferred upon Prof Dr Syed Mubeen, while Dr M. Faris received the Best Teacher Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Prof Dr Kamran Zaheer in recognition of his services to academia.
Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Imran Amin said that with the latest graduating batch, the university’s alumni network had reached 37,500. He added that scholarships worth Rs219 million were disbursed during the past year and announced that several foreign delegations were expected to visit the university in the coming months. He also highlighted the establishment of five new student clubs aimed at promoting leadership and civic responsibility.
Chancellor Ms Sadia Rashid urged the graduates to remain mindful of their responsibilities as citizens and encouraged them to help others as they progressed in life. She advised them to let compassion guide their actions and to ensure that their education served as a lasting source of benefit for society.
