LAHORE (April 26): Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran Saturday said that PU students has built soft image of Pakistan in the Germany, Holland and other European countries by winning Diplomacy Awards and Honourable Mansion at UN Model Conference there.

He was addressing a luncheon ceremony in the honour of the 12-member PU delegation upon their return. German Heinrich Boll Foundation Director Asia and Afghanistan Region Mr Gregor Anste, Ms Saima Jassam, PU External Linkages Director Prof Dr Najma Najam, PU Adviser Students Affairs Dr Mujahid Ali Mansoori, Prof Dr Iftikhar Baloch, deans and heads of various departments and the students were also present on the occasion.

PU VC felicitated the Punjab University delegation for, what he said “making outstanding achievement for varsity and building soft image of the country”. He said Punjab University is full raw talent as a large number of students with greatest pool of raw talent come every year to the varsity and there was only need to look after and nourish abilities of these creative students. He said the present administration of the varsity is focusing on this issue especially.

VC said after assuming the office of the Adviser Student Affairs, Dr Mujahid Ali Mansoori has picked up students on merit basis and presented them on various national and international forums and competitions where they achieved distinctions. He paid rich tribute to Dr Mansoori for his active efforts in this regard. He said PU admin believes in merit and talent and a special policy has been evolved to promote the creative abilities of the students.

Mr Gregor Anste said that this achievement by PU students in Germany has open up doors of educational collaboration between German institutions and PU. He said that this is just the beginning and the German Foundation would offer more sponsorship to PU students for participation in various conferences in forums in Germany. He said that this is a great achievement on part of the PU students for varsity and for Pakistan and this should not be underestimated. He said that the 12-member students’ delegation has proved ‘Best Ambassador of Pakistan’ in Germany.

PU Director External Linkages Prof Dr Najma Najam who along with Prof Dr Iftikhar Baloch was with the students’ delegation has supervised the delegation, gave a comprehensive briefing on the occasion. She said that the delegation comprises 8 boys and 4 girls and it participated in UN Model Conference in Germany which was organized by Munster University from April 1-6 and later it attended European UN Model Conference in Holland which was organized by University of Maastricht from April 16-20. She said that out of 450 delegation from 35 countries, PU team has been declared the most outstanding as it won 7 Outstanding Delegate Award and 5 Honourable Mansion. Dr Najma said that German newspapers and TV has given a wide coverage to the PU students. Dr Iftikhar Baloch also gave briefing about his experiences in the Germany and Holland and he praised the PU delegation for its achievement.

PU Adviser Students Affairs Dr Mujahid Ali Mansoori said after achieving the distinction by students in various national and international declamation contests, it has been proved that there is reemergence of debating culture in PU which would increase many fold in the upcoming years. He said that the credit for this achievement goes to German Foundation Director Programme Saima Jasam and PU student Nishat Kazmi who took initiative for participation in the UN Model Conference.