ISLAMABAD ( BMZ REPORT )
In continuation of its programme to encourage the outstanding university teachers and to acknowledge their services, Higher Education Commission (HEC) held a ceremony in connection with the Best University Teacher Award 2015 at its Secretariat.
Engr. Baligh-ur-Rehman, State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training attended the event as a chief guest, while Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman HEC was also present.
As many as 47 teachers were conferred the awards along with Rs. 100000/- and a souvenir to each for their exceptional performance in teaching. The awardees were selected from the universities across Pakistan on the basis of their performance after fulfillment of a meritorious evaluation/ nomination criteria.
Speaking on the occasion, Engr. Baligh-ur-Rehman appreciated the HEC initiative and stated that, “if we have to make progress, we have to respect our teachers”. He maintained that the Islamic teachings also accord great esteem to teachers, as they build a nation’s character apart from fulfilling their professional duties. He urged the teachers to spread optimism and counter disappointment prevailing in the society.
Referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, he underlined that the world rating agencies are now showing positive indicators regarding Pakistan, as the country has become an emerging economy. Pakistan is rapidly leaping ahead to eliminate terrorism and overcome energy crisis, the Minister said.
He said the Government has increased the higher education budget remarkably, adding that the figures have reached Rs. 91 billion this year. He informed that not only higher education, but primary, secondary and technical educations are also being paid due attention. Mentioning various uplift programmes including Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme, Prime Minister’s Fee Reimbursement Scheme, and establishment of National Curriculum Council as well as Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Committee, the Minister said that the Government is heading toward turning the country into a knowledge economy. He stressed the need for promotion of applied research in the country and highlighted the Government’s incentive programme for special persons acquiring education in different higher education institutions.
In his welcome address earlier, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed said that HEC holds the Best University Teacher Award ceremony every year to recognize the performance and services of teachers, adding that merit is strictly followed in the selection of awardees. He said HEC, since its inception in 2002, has been contributing to building a knowledge economy. He highlighted the role of teachers in social uplift. “Being academic leaders, teachers have a huge responsibility of training the youth for social progress. Play your role in addressing differences developed in the nation on different grounds,” the Chairman emphasized.
This Best University Teacher Award ceremony is organized every year under the HEC initiative to recognize the contributions made by teachers and to become a catalyst for others to accelerate their efforts in the fields of teaching and research. The programme envisages upgradation of the quality of research through staff development and provision of better facilities. It provides monetary as well as self-esteemed incentives to the teachers of universities and DAIs through awards, mementos and certificates. It also aims to develop a changed atmosphere to help lift the standard of education and research in the institutions of higher education in the country.
The awardees from the centre included Dr. Waseem Shahzad, Head of Computer Science Department, FAST National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Sohail Nadeem, Professor Dept. of Mathematics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; Dr. Muhammad Aftab Rafiq, Associate Professor, Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering; Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad; Prof. Dr. Nabi Bux Jumani, Professor Department of Education, International Islamic University, Islamabad; Dr. Amina Jameel, Associate Professor Department of Computer Engineering, Bahria University, Islamabad; Dr. Muhammad Shafique Anjum, Assistant Professor Department of Urdu Language & Literature, National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad; Dr. Sharif Ullah Khan, Associate Professor Department of SEECS, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad; and Dr. Khadija Shahid, Associate Professor, Riphah International University, Islamabad. The teachers awarded from the Punjab included Dr. Muhammad Nouman Sarwar Qureshi, Associate Professor Department of Physics, Government College University, Lahore; Dr. Liaqat Ali Qureshi, Professor Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila; Dr. Abdul Rauf Raza, Associate Professor Department of Chemistry, University of Sargodha; Dr. Sammia Shahid, Associate Professor Department of Chemistry, University of Management and Technology, Lahore; Dr. Naeem Iqbal, Associate Professor Department of Botany, Government College University, Faisalabad; Dr. Rohama Gill, Assistant Professor Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi; Dr. Mahmood Saleem, Professor Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of the Punjab, Lahore; Prof. Dr. Imran Sharif Chaudhry, Professor / Director chool of Economics, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; Dr. Rana Abrar Hussain, Associate Professor Department of Botany, University of Education, Lahore; Dr. Muhammad Ijaz, Assistant Professor Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore; Prof. Dr. Abdul Saboor, Professor Department of Economics, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi; and Dr. Ijaz Ahmad Bhatti, Professor Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The teachers from Sindh included Dr. Engr. Muhammad Zubair, Associate Professor Department of Engineering, IQRA University, Karachi Campus; Dr. Farrukh Arif, Assistant Professor Department of Civil Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi; Dr. Abdullah G Arijo, Professor Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam; Prof. Ikramuddin Ujan, Dean Department of Pathology, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro; Dr. Tasneem Qureshi, Associate Professor Department of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi; Dr. Sadia Muzaffar Bhutta, Assistant Professor Aga Khan University, Karachi; Prof. Dr. Madad Ali Shah, Professor Department of Electrical Engineering, Sukkur Institute of Business Administration, Sukkur; Prof. Dr. Allah Bux Gahghro, Professor Institute of Biochemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro; Prof. Dr. Abu Talib, Vice Principal Department of Medicine, DOW University of Health Sciences, Karachi; Dr. Syed Rizwan Ali, Assistant Professor Department of Physics, Federal Urdu University, Karachi; and Prof. Aijaz Ahmed Memon, Professor Dept. of Medical, SMBB Medical University, Larkana. The teachers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa included Dr. Hafiz Salihuddin, Associate Professor Department of Islamic Studies, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan; Dr. Hazir Rahman, Assistant Professor Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat; Dr. Abdul Jabbar Shah, Associate Professor Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad; Dr. Wajid Rehman Gora, Associate Professor Department of Chemistry, Hazara University, Mansehra; Dr. Syed Fawad Hussain, Associate Professor Department of Computer Science and Engineering, GIK Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi, KPK; Prof. Dr. Sarzamin Khan, Chairman Department of Poultry Science, the University of Agriculture, Peshawar; Prof. Dr. Rahmat Ali Khan, Professor and Dean of Sciences Department of Mathematics, University of Malakand; Dr. Muhammad Nasim Khan, Professor Department of Archaeology, University of Peshawar; Dr. Midrarullah, Assistant Professor Shaheed BB University, Sheringal, Dir Upper; Dr. Rubi Bilal, Assistant Professor Department of Mathematics, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar; Dr. Ejaz Ahmad Khan, Professor/ Chairman, Department of Agronomy, Gomal University DI Khan; and Dr. Hidayat Ullah Khan, Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Bannu. From Balochistan, the teachers included Dr. Abdul Salam Lodhi, Associate Professor Department of Economics, Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta and Dr. Muhammad Aslam, Associate Professor Department of Marine Sciences, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water Marine Sciences, Uthal received the award while from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Muhammad Rustam Khan, Professor, Department of Geology, University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad; and Prof. Dr. Rehana Asghar, Dean Faculty of Science, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST), Mirpur were awarded the Best University Teacher Award.