Bill wins autonomy for University of Peshawar

Amendments made for UoP to raise teaching, training standards.

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly approved the University of Peshawar (UoP) Amended Bill, 2011 which demands administrative and financial autonomy for the UoP to raise its standards of teaching, training and research.

The decision was reached after a lengthy confrontation by parliamentarians during the assembly meeting Friday.

The bill, with a number of amendments, states that the UoP shall be held accountable in holding property, both movable and immovable, and to lease, sell or otherwise transfer any movable or immovable property which may have become vested in or been acquired by it.

The K-P assembly session was held with Speaker of the Assembly Karamatullah Khan Chagharmatti in the chair where Minister for Higher Education Qazi Asad brought the bill for consideration.

Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, the university shall have academic, financial and administrative autonomy, including powers to employ teachers, officers and other employees on such terms as may be prescribed by the bill.

Minister Abdul Akbar Khan and Minister Saqibullah Khan Chamkani challenged the amendments but withdrew their decision when appealed by the minister.

Chamkani, who belongs to the ruling K-P government, told the media that despite his best efforts, the amendments were not properly inserted. He added that he could not get into a confrontation with his seniors as it would take him a step back.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2011.