PESHAWAR, Jan 18: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a Rs3 billion 'vision plan' for the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Peshawar, to promote research and skill training.
The UET is not only confined to awarding degrees but it has also been involved in developing linkages with industrial sector and introducing developmental projects, said UET vice-chancellor Imtiaz Hussain Gilani here on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference held here on varsity's campus, Mr Gilani said that the UET was involved in improvement, expansion and reformation in education, research and development areas.
He said the HEC was supporting the engineering sector and was closely working with the universities in initiating development projects so that experts and technocrats could be directly involved in national development. The UET with the financial assistance of the HEC has initiated many projects, he added.
The vice-chancellor said the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved a Rs17.4 million project initiated by the UET for setting up a National Institute for Urban Infrastructure Planning at the Peshawar campus. The project was aimed at addressing problems of infrastructure and environmental degradation in the urban areas.
Mr Gilani said in the first phase a centre of excellence for research and training would be established to undertake research on solid waste management, water and sanitation, land usage, transport planning and geographic information systems.
An earthquake engineering centre would be established at the UET at a cost of Rs40 million. The university had also planned to expand the facility into an early warning system, he said.
An institute at a cost of Rs37 million would be established where experts would be involved in designing prototypes for products that would enhance national economy. A 50 kanals land has been acquired in Hayatabad for the establishment of the institute, Mr Gilani said.
The vice-chancellor said that the university had also established a technical advance resource centre to promote research at the varsity and recently the UET and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) had signed an MoU to promote entrepreneurship among the students. Another centre would be established to provide training to graduates to begin small businesses.
