Campus opened in G-B where schools were torched

G-B government inaugurates university in Diamer district

GILGIT: Days after the terrorists burned and bombed over a dozen schools in the Diamer Valley of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), the regional government formally inaugurated the university campus in the main town of Chilas.

“It’s a message to the world that nobody can stop us from promotion of education,” Vice Chancellor Dr Ataullah Shah told journalists on Sunday, a day after the inauguration of the campus.

The inauguration of Karakoram International University (KIU) comes days after terrorists opposing female education bombed and torched at least 14 schools in the valley.

The militants, who managed to flee, believed to attack a police check post in which three policemen were killed and two others were injured. A high profile terrorist, commander Khalil, was also killed in police retaliatory firing.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by civil and military officials, local elders, faculty members and students. In a statement, the G-B Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman said that they would ensure male and female students in the valley get education at all costs.  “Education is our top priority and so is the elimination of terrorism,” read the statement.

According to university officials, about 128 students, 32 female students, have been enrolled in the campus where initially classes in four disciplines of forestry, computer sciences, law and business education would be started.  Diamer is G-B’s most under developed district with one per cent female literacy rate. It is located in the area where Diamer-Bhasha Dam is constructed.