FUUAST staff, students in dilemma as varsity shifts locations

CDA yet to build an access road, give NOC for installation of power transformer

ISLAMABAD:

The students and staff of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) are in a dilemma as it shifts from its existing location to a newly-constructed structure in Taramri as the new building lacks power nor is there an access road.

Varsity officials said that for a long time, FUUAST had operated in the federal capital by renting a building owned by the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The heavy rent used to eat into its meagre resources. To solve this, the government had decided to build a dedicated campus which will be owned by the varsity. The new campus was built in Taramri.

However, the apex civic body of the federal capital, the Capital Development Authority (CDA), has failed to issue a Non-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the newly-constructed campus of varsity even as the university management starts to vacate its old building and shift to the new building.

The NOC, officials said, was critical to approach the power utility of the federal capital, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) to install a power transformer for the campus and provide it with power.

Moreover, officials said that because the CDA has put the issue of the varsity on the back burner, it has not constructed an access road to the varsity and that they have to travel over a dirt track to get to the new campus.

Officials said that they expect the shifting process to be completed by the end of October and that educational activities at the new campus will commence from the upcoming semester.

But the absence of power and an access road is likely to create problems not only for the varsity staff but also for students.

How can the staff run the affairs of the varsity without any power, they asked.

Sources said that a standing committee of the National Assembly has twice raised matters about the varsity and had even summoned CDA officials, directing them to resolve issues at the earliest so that educational activities at the new FUUAST campus can commence in earnest but to no avail.

Officials feared that students and staff will continue to face immense difficulties as the new semester commences.