Centre approves Rs0.85b for Gomal University

PESHAWAR:

Federal Minister for Planning, Reforms and Development Ahsan Iqbal has given the green light to a grant of Rs0.85 billion for Gomal University (GU) in DI Khan district.

The decision was taken during a meeting of Central Development Working Party in Islamabad.

While speaking to the media on  Sunday, the GU spokesperson said Vice Chancellor Major General (retd) Dr Hamid Shafique briefed the meeting’s attendees about the financial woes of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s (K-P) second oldest institute of higher education. The spokesperson said a Rs800 million grant and an additional Rs50 million will be provided for the implementation of Dr Shafique’s reform agenda.

He said the funds will be utilised to establish new departments, hire staff, procure necessary equipment and upgrade the overall infrastructure. He added the extension of the engineering and physics departments will be a priority in the coming years.

GU is surrounded by River Indus and marshes on three sides and is vulnerable to security threats. The K-P government has said it will provide Rs120 million over the coming years for securing the campus, he said.

The spokesperson said the federal minister assured full support to the GU administration and agreed to several proposals tabled by Dr Shafique.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Commission Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed and Executive Director Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi assured Dr Shafique of visiting GU and overseeing the implementation of the reforms agenda.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2rd, 2015.