Islamabad: (Parliament Times) The third edition of NUST Olympiad, the biggest co- curricular event of National University of Sciences & Technology, kicked off at its main campus here on Thursday. Rector NUST Lt Gen Naweed Zaman, HI (M), (Retd) graced the inaugural ceremony as chief guest.
The four-day mega event is being attended by over 2000 participants from various universities and other educational institutes across Pakistan. The special feature of this year’s Olympiad is the amalgam of diverse social events viz. Saqafati Maila (Carnival) on the second day that will feature food stalls, cultural walk and a performance by the revered Sufi singer, Asrar Shah; and a concert on the penultimate day featuring live performances by pop icon, Ali Azmat and the Roxen Band. The participants would also have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential in as many as 40 in- and out-door competitions in various sports, debate & declamation, mathelatics, e-gaming, etc.
In his welcome remarks before a packed audience at the inaugural ceremony, Lt Gen Naweed Zaman, HI (M), (Retd), Rector NUST, termed Olympiad the flagship of co-curricular events organized at the university. He said that though academics generally is considered to be the most important yardstick to gauge an individual’s ability, the importance of co-curricular activities in a student’s life cannot be overemphasized. At NUST, he maintained, it is strived to keep a healthy balance between academic and non-academic pursuits as special attention is paid to physical and mental fitness of students. The Rector also said that through organizing events like Olympiad and NIMUM, NUST has been endeavoring to break the cultural barriers and allow the youth from diverse ethnic backgrounds to compete and work together and respect each other’s values and aspirations.
It may be mentioned here that this year’s Olympiad is the product of collaborative efforts of all clubs and societies at NUST with two events being pitched by each society.
