Governor State Bank vows to provide all possible support for Quaid-i-Azam University

Governor State Bank of Pakistan, Ashraf Mahmood Wathra has vowed to provide all possible support for Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) to meet its financial needs.  He was addressing a reception organized by QAU Alumni Association in his honor. Mr. Ashraf Mahmood Wathra is a distinguished alumnus, holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) and has been appointed as Governor, SBP with effect from April 29, 2014, for a period of 3 years.

While addressing the ceremony Governor State Bank shared his memories and paid tribute to the Alma mater, the role it had played in his career and personal development. He urged the alumni to come forward and support the University.

Earlier in his welcome address, Vice-Chancellor QAU Dr Javed Ashraf said that QAU has consistently been ranked the top university in the country by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). “In addition, according to the US News and World Report, QAU is the only academic institution in Pakistan among the top 500 universities in the world. However the financial constraint is the main hurdle for QAU towards achieving its desired goals of providing best physical infrastructure and academic standards” he added.

Chief organizer of the event Mr. Asif Noor also thanked the participants and alumni of the university. He said that QAU Alumni Association is a non-profit voluntary organization established by the university’s alumni as a social and interactive forum and has been playing an important role in the welfare of the student by providing them a number of scholarships.

Dr Shahid Hameed, Director Office of Research Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC), QAU, gave a detailed presentation to Governor State Bank on the research projects of commercial importance including plasma-assisted sterilization, functional energy materials for super capacitors, fuel cells and Li-ion batteries applications, indigenously produced enzymes for poultry use, making of environmentally friendly leather, use of microbial lipases in detergents and production of biodiesel from non edible plants.

He said that a number of linkages had also been established with different industries, including petroleum, leather, sugar, beverages, chemical, electronics and pharmaceutical industry. “We are also in a close liaison with chambers of commerce of different cities to understand the need of industry,” said Director, ORIC