PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan has asked the universities to focus on research, publication and development.

He was speaking on the occasion of the convocation of the University of Peshawar here on Wednesday.

He conferred 494 degrees on the students for the session 2013. Some 35 students, including 16 girls, were given gold medals for standing first in their respective departments.

Besides, 26 PhD and seven M.

Phil scholars were also awardedthe highest research degrees, according to a press release issued by the UoP here.

Degrees were given to the students of six faculties and 49 departments.

Addressing the convocation ceremony, Mahtab Khan offered his deepest felicitations to the graduating students, their teachers and parents. He added that the students` achievements showed their gratitude and abiding respect towards their institution.

The KP governor underlined that only the growth of universities would be quite meaningless unless attention was focused on research, publication and development.

He said it was really hearteningto know that the HEC ranking of the UoP had improved during the current year.

He also encouraged the students to work hard in practical life and achieve the high goals.

The chancellor advised the graduates that aim of education was not only to do a job but to build a successful nation.

Mahtab Khan announced Rs100,000 each for two physically challenged students as appreciation for completing masters with distinction. He also announced free admission for them in their future research degree programmes. The students included Owais Alam, who did masters in political science and Sakina Afridi,having done masters in Urdu.

On the occasion, UoP ViceChancellor Professor Rasul Jan presented the annual performance report, and said more than 23,000 students were studying in the six different faculties comprising about 49 departments, institutes, centres, colleges and schools.

Rasul Jan said in last three years, the university had progressed both in academic and financial management. He said in 2014-15, the UoP had produced 163 PhDs and had received nine mega projects.

He said in the last two years, nine UoP teachers had been awarded Tamgah-i-Imtiaz for their better performance.