Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani addressed the oath-taking ceremony of the Academic Staff Association executive body at Bahauddin Zakariya University Jinnah Auditorium, emphasizing that teachers are the backbone of the education system and that the rise or decline of nations depends on the strength of their educators. He linked Pakistan’s future to the ability of universities to deliver effective and quality higher education to a growing youth population.
He urged universities to function as regional centres for education, research, innovation and social responsibility, calling for curriculum reform and closer alignment between academic programmes and modern job market needs. The chairman highlighted the importance of building stronger partnerships between Pakistani universities and internationally renowned institutions to raise standards and opportunities for students and faculty.
Gilani praised Bahauddin Zakariya University for its role in promoting quality higher education across Southern Punjab and requested the Punjab government to establish a BZU campus in Shujaabad. He said a new campus would directly benefit students from Shujaabad, Jalalpur Pirwala, Alipur, Lodhran and neighbouring areas, and expressed hope that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz would approve the proposal without delay.
Recalling that Bahauddin Zakariya University was founded in 1975 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto alongside Islamia University Bahawalpur and Gomal University, he described the move as a farsighted decision to ensure educational equity and sustainable national development. Referring to his term as prime minister from 2008 to 2012, Gilani said that despite economic and security challenges his government worked to strengthen public universities and expand access to higher education in underdeveloped regions, including awarding 100 PhD scholarships to BZU under a faculty development programme.
Vice Chancellor Dr Zubair Iqbal outlined recent improvements in the university�s ranking and a comprehensive five-year strategy aimed at institutional advancement. Dr Biniamin, president of the Academic Staff Association, highlighted faculty concerns while pledging active participation in the university’s progress and thanking the chairman for his ongoing support for Southern Punjab and BZU. Gilani reiterated that investment in higher education is a long-term national responsibility, essential for social justice and democratic stability.
