LAHORE: A special convocation of the Institute of Art and Culture was held at Governor House here on Friday in which an honourary degree of PhD was conferred upon UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salim Al Zaabi.

The ambassador was awarded an honorary degree by Governor Balighur Rehman in recognition of his valuable services in the promotion of bilateral relations, especially in the field of trade between Pakistan and the UAE.

He appreciated the role of the UAE ambassador in strengthening the cultural and trade relations between Pakistan and the UAE and people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

He said that there should be exchange programmes involving degrees or short visits of students between educational institutions of Pakistan and the UAE. He said that Pakistani students were going to study in the best universities of the world in large numbers.

Mr Rehman said that Pakistani universities were improving in world rankings. He said that Pakistani universities wanted to open their campuses in UAE and other parts of the world. He further said that it was painful to see the agony of civilians, women and children in Gaza strip of Palestine, adding that we must keep raising our voice against the tyranny and atrocities on innocent citizens.

Mr Al Zaabi said that it was a great honor for him to receive the honorary degree of PhD. He said that the Pakistani community was playing an important role in the economic development of the UAE. The ambassador said the UAE wanted to expand its economic relations with Pakistan and was keen to start joint ventures with Pakistani investors for investment in various sectors in the UAE.

Vice-Chancellor Institute of Art and Culture Faisal Janjua, Pro-Vice Chancellor Ijaz A Qureshi, Member Senate Institute of Art and Culture Imran Masood and Pakistan’s first woman astronaut Namira Saleem were also present.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2023