IT university in Hazara: PM asks HEC chief to prepare report

Gilani assures Hazara University VC of provision of funds for campus completion.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to prepare a feasibility report for setting up an IT university in Hazara Division.

During a meeting with HEC Chairperson Javed Leghari and Hazara University Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Syed Sakhawat Shah at the Prime Minister House, Gilani reiterated that education was one of government’s “priority” sectors.

Dr Shah told the prime minister that Hazara University was catering to the needs of over 7,000 students on campus, while 45,000 students were studying in affiliated colleges.

He added that about 60 per cent of work on the campus building had been completed and requested help in completion of the remaining construction work.

PM Gilani assured him that he will personally talk to the Turkish prime minister about completion of the remaining construction work. He also asked the VC to prepare a feasibility report for the construction of student hostels and staff colony. He assured him that the government will provide requisite funds for the project.

Leghari apprised the prime minister of the compilation of the first Seraiki dictionary by his organisation and about the progress on the establishment of an engineering university in Multan and IT universities in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Dera Ghazi Khan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2011.