Cabinet approves provision of land for 2 universities

Amendments in some bills okayed.

LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments in various bills and the provision of land for the establishment of two universities.

The bills in which amendments were approved are the Punjab Katchi Abadis Act, 1992; the Punjab Service Tribunal Act, 1974; the Punjab Sugar Factories Control Act, 1950; and the Punjab Government Servants Housing Foundation Act, 2004.

The new universities that will be established are Akhuwat University in Dera Ghazi Khan and Daanish Technical University in Lahore, which would be set up in collaboration with the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey.

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over the meeting. He called the amendment approved in the katchi abadies Act, 1992 “a measure that would provide relief” to the poor. He said the government would grant ownership rights to dwellers of katchi abadies. Sharif instructed that committees be established at the provincial and divisional levels for ensuring that all katchi abadi residents are given ownership rights.

A committee was also formed to submit recommendations, within seven days, about how the government should go about the provision of land, on lease, for Akhuwat University. The university will be established on 351 kanals and will offer courses in engineering, veterinary sciences, computer sciences, information and communication and management sciences.

The chief minister said that the construction of the first campus of Daanish Technical University will start within a month. The university will be housed in the Arfa Software Technology Park on Ferozepur Road. It will be run by a trust.