ISLAMABAD, Dec 3: The government has approved a project to establish a telecommunication laboratory at University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, at a cost of Rs39.75 million.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman, Dr Attaur Rehman, said the project was approved in a Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) meeting, which was presided over by the HEC executive director, Prof A. Q. Mughal.

The project aims at improving infrastructure for better training and research in the field of telecommunication, the chairman added.

“In addition, the research and development (R&D) activities will lead to significant improvement in telecom sector, while consultancy services will be available for telecom industry and government in the field of telecommunication and wireless communication.”

He said the government as well as private organizations in the field would benefit from the laboratory in terms of expert technical advice and design work.

The chairman said a group of 200 students would benefit from the laboratory by registering in the subjects of telecommunication. These courses are a part of curricula for MSc Electrical Engineering Programme, he added.

“At present no lab facilities are available, however as a result of the establishment of these laboratories, the students will be able to perform the experiments and lab work and therefore have a strong background in these areas.”

Prof Ata said the proposed laboratory for the discipline would accelerate the R&D activities. The university will be able to produce 10 MSc and five PhD students each year and through R&D activities the telecommunication sector will register a significant improvement, he added.

He said links with the industry would be beneficial not only for the industry but also for the laboratory, as it would provide homegrown solutions along with grooming a highly valuable human resource.