16/08/2026
Ghazi University Hosts Colourful Independence Day Celebrations, Reviews Development and Agricultural Progress at Airport Campus
Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, organized a colourful and dignified Independence Day ceremony at its New Campus under the chairmanship of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha. Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Division Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chaudhry attended the ceremony as Chief Guest, while Regional Police Officer Muhammad Azhar Akram, Deputy Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Muhammad Usman Khalid, and District Police Officer Sadiq Hussain Baloch participated as Guests of Honour.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. Rashid Qureshi, Sardar Jameel Buzdar, senior media professionals Syed Naveed Naqvi, Riyaz Jazib, Kashif Qadeer, Manzoor Laghari, Farooq Ghori and Mazhar Lashari, along with principal officers, directors, faculty members and other representatives of Ghazi University.
At the outset, Prof. Dr. Arshad Munir Laghari welcomed the distinguished guests and briefed them on the objectives of the ceremony. He highlighted the significant and positive transformation witnessed at the New Campus during the relatively short period of Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha’s leadership, particularly in administrative, academic and developmental affairs.
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha welcomed the distinguished guests and gave a detailed overview of the university’s ongoing development projects and future plans. He stated that when he assumed the leadership of Ghazi University nearly two years ago, several development projects at the New Campus had remained stalled for a considerable period. Through concerted efforts, the university succeeded in restoring the blocked funds through the Higher Education Commission, enabling the resumption of construction work on various administrative and academic buildings.
The Vice Chancellor said that several projects had now reached the final stages of completion within a remarkably short period. These projects include a new Administrative Block, Academic Block, Bachelor Faculty Hostel, faculty residences, Central Mosque, filtration plant, dispensary, cafeteria, sports gymnasium, staff residences, and hostels for male and female students.
Highlighting the university’s agricultural initiatives, Prof. Dr. Chattha said that extensive efforts had been undertaken to transform the vast, barren and desert-like land of the New Campus into productive and sustainable agricultural areas. Through large-scale land levelling, reclamation and plantation activities, different orchards had been established and the cultivated area had increased substantially.
He said that fruit orchards now include date palms, citrus, sweet oranges, falsa, pomegranate and olive, while crops such as wheat, chia, raya and chickpea are being cultivated. Initially, only around 30 acres of land at the New Campus was cultivable; through continuous efforts and effective planning, the cultivable area has now been expanded to approximately 600 acres.
The university’s Model Farm is being utilized for both experimental and commercial cultivation of different crops, with the objectives of promoting modern agricultural practices, contributing to the improvement of agriculture in the region and providing agricultural advisory services to the local community.
The Vice Chancellor further highlighted Ghazi University’s initiatives to strengthen disaster preparedness and address the risks posed by hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan. He said that, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Pakistan Meteorological Department, a state-of-the-art Automatic Weather Station is being established at the university. The facility will support weather monitoring, forecasting and the timely provision of information related to hill torrents and other weather-related hazards.
He also highlighted initiatives for the promotion of livestock in the region, stating that a rangeland is being developed to support local livestock breeds. He described the indigenous breeds of sheep, goats, cattle and buffaloes of Dera Ghazi Khan as valuable regional assets. Arrangements are being made for the provision of fodder and water for livestock, while, in collaboration with the Forest Department, a plan is underway to establish a grazing area over approximately 200 acres.
Prof. Dr. Chattha further stated that Dera Ghazi Khan occupies a strategically important geographical position in Pakistan. Keeping this significance in view, work is also underway on the establishment of an Inter-Provincial Harmony Centre. He emphasized that universities play a fundamental role in the sustainable development of any region and said that Ghazi University was committed to contributing to the educational, agricultural, scientific and social development of the region, while also extending meaningful services to the local community.
Addressing the ceremony as Chief Guest, Commissioner Dera Ghazi Khan Division Mr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chaudhry appreciated the remarkable transformation taking place at Ghazi University under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha. He said that the university’s development and improvement in its academic and research standards would serve as an important milestone in overcoming the educational backwardness of Dera Ghazi Khan.
The Commissioner particularly appreciated the organization of international-standard training workshops at Ghazi University. He noted that, for the first time in the university’s history, international scholars and scientists were visiting the institution to conduct workshops, seminars and training programmes. He expressed the hope that, following the completion of the academic and administrative blocks, more degree programmes and modern facilities would be introduced, enabling Ghazi University to emerge among the leading universities of Pakistan.
During the second phase of the programme, the distinguished guests visited the 1,100-acre New Campus. The Vice Chancellor briefed them on ongoing development activities, construction projects, agricultural initiatives and measures being undertaken to transform barren land into productive agricultural areas. He explained how the vast desert-like landscape was being developed into a conducive environment for educational and research activities.
Describing Ghazi University as an “oasis in the desert” for the region, the Vice Chancellor said that the university was contributing to the intellectual and social development of the area through education, research and knowledge.
The third phase of the programme featured a cultural evening organized in honour of the distinguished guests. The participants enjoyed traditional and cultural music, while a traditional Balochi Jhumar performance added colour and vibrancy to the event. Renowned Saraiki poet Aziz Shahid enthralled the audience with his beautiful Saraiki poetry, further enhancing the cultural spirit of the evening. A dinner was subsequently hosted in honour of the distinguished guests.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Arshad Munir Laghari, the programme organizer, expressed gratitude to all distinguished guests and participants for their presence. Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Chattha congratulated the organizers on the successful event and reiterated his commitment to further advancing Ghazi University through collective efforts, institutional cooperation and sustained hard work, with the aim of establishing the university as a prominent institution at the national level.
