ISLAMABAD, Nov 10: Federal University for Arts, Science and Technology, commonly known as Urdu university, formally started functioning on Monday with the initial strength of 250 students and eight faculty members.

The soft inaugural ceremony was presided over by Jameeluddin Aali, who is also deputy chancellor of the university. Initially, four departments — business management, computer sciences, information technology and languages — have started their classes which will be increased with the passage of time.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Aali said the university had been set up on the line of Sir Syed’s Aligarh Muslim University and the same spirit would be maintained in running the Urdu university.

The university is the latest addition to the public-sector universities of the country.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf will be its chancellor, whereas Dr Qasim Pirzada will work as vice-chancellor, Dr Attaur Rehman, pro-vice chancellor; Jameeluddin Aali, deputy chancellor; Dr Syed Hassan, project manager and Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik of Pakistan National Language Authority, chairman selection committee.

The university campus is located in the newly-constructed Wapda building near Zero Point which has been hired at an annual rent of Rs10.52 million. At present, it is equipped with 100 computers and 500 books for the library.

The senate of the university, in its meeting, held on September 20-21 this year, had already formed its syndicate, academic council and the board of advance studies.

A special consultative body of the university is also being headed by Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik which will comprise Dr S. Hassan, who is the representative of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Altaf Hussain, vice-chancellor of the Allama Iqbal Open University and Mohsin Ehsan, an eminent poet.

Meanwhile, its department of translation and compilation has been directed to prepare a comprehensive PC-I and get it approved from the government. In this connection the best publishing houses from all over the country, both from the public and private sectors, will be called in the near future.

Similarly, a special committee of the university senators has been set up to review rules and regulations of its affiliation committee to ensure highest standards while deciding applications of institutions applying for affiliation with the Urdu university.