Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq has said that students are the future of the nation and present government has taken revolutionary steps for the development of education sector which has enabled the youth to utilize their energies and play their role for national progress and development.

He stated this while addressing at  a ceremony organized for laptop distribution under the Prime Minister Laptop Scheme and Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) Scholarship card at Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) here on Friday.

On the occasion, PMAS-AAUR Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, faculty members and large number of students were also present. In a ceremony, a total of 341 laptops and internet devices, provided by Higher Education Commission (HEC) and 172 fully funded PEEF Scholarship card were distributed among students of undergraduates and postgraduates of different degree programs of University.

Addressing the ceremony Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq said that it was the vision of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who wanted to provide all required facilities to the students so that they could devote themselves fully to education and became proud Pakistanis. He said that government is working hard to provide opportunities to the talented but needy students to fulfill their dreams and aspirations and become partner in the development and welfare of country. He urged the students to concentrate on their studies so that they could lead the nation.

On the occasion, Senator Raja Zafar-ul-Haq also inaugurated, Forest Nursery  and Horticultural Engineering Work Station in University premises. At the end he also planted a tree in University premises. He lauded the efforts of PMAS-AAUR’s Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad in bringing up the University at par with the international standards. He alsoappreciated the measures being taken for the elevation of the University with the hope that it would go a long way in context of teaching, learning and research programs.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad welcomed the guests and extended congratulations to Laptops & PEEF scholarship holders. He appreciated the laptop & scholarships initiatives from the Government side and hoped that these kinds of project would continue in future. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rai Niaz Ahmad, while talking about the HEC ranking list regarding universities, said that it was based on performance of year 2012 and the era of my predecessor. He assured that next time PMAS-AAUR will beat Agriculture University Faisalabad in HEC ranking list. He said that it is the moral responsibility of laptops & PEEF scholarships holders to become change agent in the society and bring the country to the new heights. He said that not a single Laptop & PEEF scholarship had been awarded out of merit. He stressed upon the students to utilize all their energies for acquiring knowledge and adopt reading habits as it is a key to success.