ISLAMABAD, Dec. 14 (INP): Around 200 students of M.Phil and PhD of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) from Islamabad region received laptops at a ceremony held here on Friday.

They were awarded the laptops under phase IV and V of the government’s scheme, giving them access to the new technology in their educational pursuits.

This is the recognition of their talents and commitment to education, said the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Zia-Ul-Qayyum while congratulating the recipients. He hoped they will utilize their abilities to serve the nation, so as to pay-back what were being invested on them.

He urged the youth to ensure positive and constructive use of the new communication facility. It should help them to achieve excellence in their educational field and to ultimately serve the country in a best possible way.

He asserted that the education should be made beneficial for the society, and with this spirit, he added, the students should carry forward their research-based activities, through best use of laptops and other tools of communication. According to Director Students’ Advisory and Counselling services Rana Tariq Javed, the distribution of the laptops, took place according to the merit-criteria laid down by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). A transparent mechanism was adopted while implementing the scheme.

As many as 2500 M.Phil and PhD students of the University have already received the laptops on country-wide basis, with the internet communication device.

The ceremony was attended among others by Dean Sciences Dr. Syed Zafar Ilyas, Director Regional Services Dr. Inamullah Sheikh and the University’s Registrar Dr. Muhammad Zaigham Qadeer.

INP/AJ