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ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (APP):Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi on Tuesday declared the Government Graduate College Asghar Mall, one of Rawalpindi’s oldest educational institutions, as a National Heritage institution of Pakistan.
Addressing a ceremony at the college, the minister said a formal notification and official ceremony would soon be held to confer the heritage status.
He said the college was not merely an academic building but a living symbol of knowledge, character, and Pakistan’s historical and cultural legacy.
Calling students the future of the nation and its brightest asset, the minister recalled Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s message to students at the time of independence to focus on education as the foundation of national progress.
He urged students to act as ambassadors of Pakistan whenever they travel abroad and to project a positive image of the country.
He said that after the bravery of Pakistan’s armed forces and the success of Marka-e-Haq, Pakistan’s global standing had improved and the world was viewing the country with renewed respect.
The minister invited the college administration to sign cooperation agreements with institutions working under the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture and assured full support. He said all attached organizations were ready to collaborate and that the college could use the ministry’s platforms free of cost to promote educational and cultural activities.
Paying tribute to the faculty, the minister said teachers were shaping the future of the nation and appreciated the administration for preserving the institution’s heritage and traditions. He urged students to move forward with knowledge, ethics, and a sense of responsibility to serve the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Government Graduate College Asghar Mall Professor Dr. Tanveer Ahmed Khan Khichi said archaeology classes had been launched at the college, calling it a pioneering initiative at the college level. He said support from the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums was required, to which the federal minister assured full cooperation.
The Director General, Directorate of Archaeology and Museums (DOAM), faculty members, and students were also present.