AJK to get new women’s varsity

All faculties of general and professional education to the postgraduate level, including sciences and IT.

MIRPUR:

In order to provide higher educational facilities to women in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the government plans to set up a world class university in the valley in the near future, official sources said.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the proposed varsity will comprise all faculties of general and professional education to the postgraduate level, including sciences and information technology (IT). The university will provide higher education exclusively to women. The federal government has agreed to extend assistance for its establishment.

Referring to the Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College to be established at Chitterpari, Mirpur, the sources indicated that the government has approved its feasibility and basic technical aspects. The federal government has recently approved the establishment of the medical college and the academic year is scheduled to begin from January 1.

The government has also decided to set up a polytechnic institute and introduce evening classes for various technical disciplines in state-run educational institutions in all eight districts of AJK under a phased programme to produce skilled workers. Under a broad-based plan to promote IT and computer education, the government is working on a proposal to establish software parks and IT institutes in all eight district headquarters. A proposal to double scholarships for fresh graduates is also under consideration. Career counselling institutes and educational academies are being set up to impart training to the youth and college teachers respectively.

Easy-term loans will be made available for skilled and educated youth to set up the small business and industries to overcome unemployment.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.