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The University of Sargodha distributed research productivity awards worth Rs21 million among 230 faculty members in recognition of their contributions to high-impact research during 2025. The awards were presented at a ceremony organised by the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation, where founder and chairman of Akhuwat, Dr. Muhammad Amjad Saqib (Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i- Imtiaz), attended as chief guest, while Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas was the guest of honour. Former federal secretary and philanthropist Muhammad Saleem Ahmad Ranjha, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masood Sarwar Awan, ORIC Director Prof. Dr. Ahmad Raza Bilal, deans, directors, chairpersons and researchers also attended the event. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Amjad Saqib lauded the university’s research performance and termed it a benchmark for other institutions. He stressed that research should go beyond academic discourse and contribute to solving real-life problems, promoting entrepreneurship, value addition and social development. Addressing the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas congratulated the award recipients and said a strong research culture was essential for academic excellence, global competitiveness and institutional growth. Highlighting the university’s recent achievements, he said UoS produced around 1,400 high-index research publications during the year, submitted 81 intellectual property rights applications — the highest by any public or private university in the country — established around 600 industrial linkages and contracts, and submitted more than 160 advisory and policy briefs to various government ministries. He added that the university had organised over 500 research-related activities during the past three years. Earlier, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Raza Bilal briefed participants on the university’s research and innovation performance. He said UoS secured first position among general public sector universities in Punjab in the Higher Education Commission’s research productivity rankings. In the HEC Research Productivity Evaluation 2025, the university achieved X Category status with a score of 70.05, ranking ninth nationally, third in Punjab and first among general public sector universities in the province. During the ceremony, Dr. Amjad Saqib and Prof. Dr. Qaisar Abbas presented the Research Productivity Awards 2025, along with prize cheques, to 230 distinguished researchers/ faculty members.