CHINIOT: FAST-National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences held its convocation on ChiniotFaisalabad Campus on Monday.

The convocation was presided over by chancellor Wasim Sajjad (also former Senate chairman), while industrialist Mian Muhammad Mansha was the chief guest.

Mr Mansha said Pakistan was facing economic crises because of state enterprises such as the PIA, railways, Pakistan Steel Mills and Wapda. He said the country should have minimum loss-rendering institutions so that more funds could be allocated to universities and hospitals.

He urged the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and other political parties to come to parliament and strengthen the country instead of hitting the street which was harmful for country`s economy. He also announced funds for the construction of a girls` hostel at the university.

Board of Governors` member MNA Qaisar Ahmad Sheikh said it was his initiative to bring the world renowned university`s campus to Chiniot in 2012. It was constructed on 10 acres with Rs1.5 billion and now more than 24 acres had been given to the campus for hostels and faculty members` residences.

Rector Dr Ameer Muhammad said the Chiniot-Faisalabad campus was the fifth one after Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore. He said the university helped the deserving students through zero-mark-up loan of up to Rs560 million in the current financial year.

Chiniot-Faisalabad campus director Asif Gilani said three graduate and one post-graduate programmes had been initiated on the campus, which were BS in computer sciences, electrical engineering and business administration, and post-graduation in business administration. Chancellor Wasim Sajjad conferred degrees on the graduates.