Earthquake 2005: Hazara University still functioning out of makeshift classrooms

HEC took over reconstruction work from Erra this month .

ISLAMABAD: The Hazara University continues to function out of makeshift classrooms, 10 years after the devastating earthquake that rocked the region.

Starting March 5, 2015 the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has taken over the responsibility of rebuilding the quake-affected university from the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (Erra).

Erra took charge of completing reconstruction work in July 2009, after a Turkish NGO engaged in rebuilding since 2007 ran out of funds. The Turkish firm had announced to build 10 new academic blocks and four hostels, two each for boys and girls.

The university, which was established in 2002 and sprawls over a vast area on the Karakoram Highway in Mansehra, suffers from an acute shortage of class and faculty rooms.

Most academic blocks are made up of temporary prefabricated halls.

All the buildings, except the administration block, were destroyed completely or partially in the 2005 earthquake.

The commission, however, has now approved Rs708 million for the construction work, after the Ministry of Finance approved the project on March 4, 2015.

As per the project eight new academic blocks comprising of 96 classrooms each would be completed. Besides, the plan also envisages 24 large lecture rooms, 10 computer laboratories, furniture and information and communication technology equipment.

Azam Jan, head of Department of Communications and Media, said that the department was hard-pressed to accommodate eight undergrad batches, four master’s classes and two batches of MS in makeshift classrooms. He said that students sometimes even had to sit in the corridor of the department.

He said that the whole university was suffering from shortage of space.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2015.