April 7, 2006	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 6: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) will establish an engineering university in Sialkot in collaboration with the Swedish government. This was disclosed at a press conference jointly addressed by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rahman and Minister for Education, Research and Culture, Sweden, Leif Pagrotsky at the HEC Secretariat.

Mr Pagrotsky is visiting Pakistan along with a seven-member delegation of eminent educationists to explore possibilities of mutual cooperation of both countries in higher education sector.

Prof Ata said this university would be the first of six engineering universities announced by the government, and it was expected that classes would begin in 2008. Sweden would provide technical expertise through the vice-chancellor, senior professors, examination system, quality assurance and training of faculty, whereas the Pakistan government would provide finances.

“The aim of the project is to strengthen engineering sciences which is linked to the government’s vision to transition the country’s agriculture economy to knowledge economy,” Prof Ata said. The university will also house all basic science departments which are considered integral parts of any world-class engineering university. He further said at present over 200 students were being awarded scholarships to top Swedish universities who would be available for these engineering universities with their technological skills.

He said these six engineering universities were to have autonomous campuses in various cities of Pakistan.

He informed mediapersons that the admission to the university would be strictly on merit and seats would not be reserved on any quota whatsoever.

The fee structure, he said, would be kept as low as possible to make them accessible to all. A sum of Rs1 billion in scholarships to students was already part of the projected plan.

Swedish Minister for Education Lief Pagrotsky expressed faith and optimism at the challenging task undertaken by Pakistan. He said he was impressed by the high level of ambition and the short span of time in which Pakistan was bent upon achieving its goal of enhancing the higher education sector.

He expressed his delight at getting the chance to participate in expansion of knowledge as education would not remain an asset for the privileged few but millions would benefit from it.

Speaking on the occasion, Anders Flodstrom, President Royal Institute of Technology Stockholm (KTH), said he was looking forward to the challenge of compressing 180 years of the institute’s experience in handful of years but promised to deliver the same quality. He said he was honoured that his institute would be part of this mega project.

He said Sialkot offered a perfect place to set up a university as the industry in the city would help them develop technology parks in the proposed university. They planned to begin with 1,000 students and raise it gradually, but quality would be their major priority.