LAHORE, Jan 22: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Prof Dr Ataur Rehman has said the government is ready to hire IT faculty from abroad to serve in Pakistan.

Speaking at a briefing at the Punjab University’s College of Information Technology on Tuesday, he said the government had advertised in international newspapers and magazines to invite applications from Pakistani IT experts to teach in Pakistan. The government had so far received applications from 71 experts. The college could get the list and select teachers for its faculty.

He said the government would pay between Rs100,000 and Rs300,000 per month to a teacher.

With regard to the PhD programmes launched by the PUCIT, he said the government could also fund its PhD students to study abroad. The government would pay the cost.

Prof Rehman asked the Punjab University to get the list of 170 PhD supervisors prepared by the UGC and identify its teacher to be included in the list. The government would pay each supervisor Rs500,000 per year to supervise the PhD research.

He asked the PU management to prepare good projects and the government would fund them.

He also asked the IT college to add internship system in its courses to give the students aggressive working environment in the job market.

Earlier, college principal Dr Majid Naeem briefed the minister about the achievements and working of the college. He said the college needed to establish six more labs.

KINNAIRD COLLEGE: Prof Rehman asked the Kinnaird College administration to send a demand through the education department to get required number of computers.