K-P Minister for Planning and Development Rahim Dad Khan informed the house that the province will soon get an oil refinery. PHOTO: FILE
Lawmakers of the ruling Awami National Party (ANP) from Swat have called for removal of the vice-chancellor of Swat University on grounds that the varsity is lagging behind in educational and structural developments.
The recommendation was put forth by Minister for Environment and Forests Wajid Ali Khan and lawmakers Dr Haider Ali, Mian Jaffer Shah, Rehmat Ali and Waqar Ahmed Khan during a session of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) assembly on Friday.
The lawmakers maintained that the provincial government acquired land for the campus and the government of the United Arab Emirates also extended aid of $75 million dollars for it; however, three years on the university has not flourished. Moreover, they said the people of Swat have concerns about the lack of subjects offered at the university, but the varsity’s vice-chancellor refuses to discuss the issue with elected representatives.
Wajid, the environment minister said the varsity is yet to establish the departments of management and tourism studies, while previously functional departments of statistics, development studies and strategic studies have been closed. He demanded of the assembly speaker to form a committee of the house to investigate the affairs of the institute.
Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain assured the lawmaker that the government will hold an inquiry and resolve the issues on priority.
Establishment department draws flak
Minister for Elementary Education Sardar Hussain Babak lashed out at the establishment department after lawmakers pointed out delays in filling of vacant posts of teachers.
The minister said that three districts of the province, including Hangu, Shangla and Kohsitan, were being run without Executive District Officer (EDOs) and blamed the establishment department of creating hurdles in appointment of teachers.
“Cases forwarded by the education departments stay with the establishment department for months and then they return the cases over the most insignificant issues,” he said. “These delays are unjustifiable at a time when the province is facing an education emergency,” he added.
Speaker Kiramatullah Chagarmati called for a standing committee meeting to discuss the issue on Monday or Tuesday.
Oil Refinery
K-P Minister for Planning and Development Rahim Dad Khan informed the house that the province will soon get an oil refinery. For the purpose, a team of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) visited Gurguri gas field in Karak on Monday, he said.
Answering a question of about security to the gas field and the installations, he said it was the duty of the provincial and federal government.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2013.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ