Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The FATA University will be functional from next fall semester, whereas Gwadar University and sub-campus of the University of Balochistan in Zhob are also expected to start their academic activities in 2017.

While answering a question in Upper House of parliament, State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Baligh-ur-Rehman said that the FATA University would start functioning in Fall-2016 as the administrative approval has already been issued by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in this regard.

The PC-I worth Rs 1,592 million for the establishment of the university was approved by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission in December 2015.

The minister briefed the House that initially the university would start three faculties with 11 academic programs, whereas the enrolment of about 3,000 students in next 10 years is being proposed for the university.

The concept of establishing a university in FATA was first floated in 2008, but due to a number of reasons formal work could not be started. In 2013, the FATA University Regulations were approved and a site was identified in Akhurwal locality in the semi-tribal region of Darra Adamkhel.

The FATA Secretariat, in consultation with the FATA parliamentarians, purchased the land measuring 266 kanals on the identified site through a development project approved by the CDWP.

Talking to Daily Times, Vice Chancellor of FATA University Professor Dr Tahir Shah said, “We are going to start the academic session from September 2016 in the building of Dara Adam Khail Degree Collage. However, we have received administrative approval of Rs 1.6 billion for human resource development and infrastructure development.” He said the posts for faculty members have already been advertised and a tremendous response has been received as a large number of applicants are willing to join the institution.

The VC said there was no security issue as Pakistan Army was deployed in the area. He said that the university will not cater to the students belonging to FATA only but any Pakistani national can get admission there. He said that an advertisement has been published to invite applications for 20 foreign scholarships, which would be awarded to those students who must come back after completing their studies abroad and join the university as regular faculty members.

The FATA students studying in the universities of federal capital have expressed their satisfaction over the announcement as it will help them receive higher education at their doorstep. A student belongs to the tribal areas, Fahim Anwar Yousafzai, said that it will be the first university in our area since the creation of Pakistan and it will help eradicate extremism from the area. Criticizing the policy makers, he said; “Had our rulers offered such educational institutions in past, the situation would have been different today.”

To a question by ruling party’s Senator Najma Hameed, the minister assured the Senate that two other proposed universities for the remote areas of the country would start functioning in year 2017 as the concept papers of both universities have already been placed before the Planning Commission by the HEC.

After approval of the proposals from the competent authorities, the projects will be proposed for inclusion in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) of financial year 2016-17. The tentative cost of Gwadar University is Rs 932.189 million, whereas the tentative cost of the sub campus of Balochistan University in Zhob is Rs 582.585 million.

A student, Abdul Sattar, who hails from Balochistan and is currently enrolled at International Islamic University Islamabad, said, “The people living in Islamabad can never imagine the circumstances faced by the people of Balochistan. The announcement to establish two universities in Gwadar and Zhob is a long-awaited step by the government.”