Hyderabad, Jan 23: More than 500 students of the Mehran University of Engineering and Technology were awarded degrees, gold and silver medals and merit certificates at the 14th annual convocation held on the campus in Jamshoro on Saturday.

Dr S.M. Qureshi, adviser to Sindh governor on education and former vice-chancellor of the university, presided over the convocation and conferred degrees on new graduates.

Three top faculty graduates and eight best graduates were awarded gold medals, 21 were given silver medals and 37 were presented merit certificates.

According to break-up, seven candidates were awarded PhDs, 32 Master of Engineering (ME), 442 bachelor degrees, 24 BE Architecture, eight BE RCP, nine B.Tech (Hons), two B.Tech (Pass), six BS (IT) and 28 BE (Design).

Addressing the gathering, Dr Qureshi praised the university administration, academia and the incumbent vice chancellor, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, for converting the university into one of the finest institutions and finding place among top 400 universities of the world. "We all should be proud of this achievement," he said.

He said the project for production of bio-gas from refuse of sugar mills and research work on Thar coal project launched by the university would go a long way in solving the country's energy crisis.

He said he was pleased to know that the university was concentrating on research and establishing new departments every year. The introduction of new courses of international standard and setting up of modern laboratories were welcome steps, he said.

Earlier, Vice-Chancellor Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan said during welcome address that it was a great honour for the university that it had been recognised all over the world. The university was ranked No.1 in Sindh and No2 in Pakistan, he said.

He said that 2,300 students had been given admission to BE, ME and PhD while the total strength of students was 7,546. The degree programme was being expanded every year and research continued on many projects to develop research culture of international standard, he said. Dawn.