ISLAMABAD, Aug 11: Minister for Education Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi here on Friday told the Senate that 10 federal universities will be established across the country during the year 2006-07.

Replying to a question raised by Senator Nisar Ahmad Memon, the minister said the main campus of National University of Law would be established in Islamabad while its sub-campuses in each province.

The estimated project cost is Rs415 million, and out of the total amount Rs365 million had been allocated under the Public Sector Development Programme 2006-07.

Two universities of engineering, sciences and technology, will be established at Lahore in collaboration with Austria and Germany. The estimated cost to be incurred on these universities is Rs10 billion and Rs11.5 billion, respectively. Similarly, Rs50 million and Rs75 million have already been allocated for these projects in this year’s PSDP.

Two universities of engineering, sciences and technology, will be established in Karachi with the collaboration of France and China. The universities’ estimated cost is Rs12 billion and Rs10 billion, respectively. For the projects, Rs50 million and Rs10 million have allocated in PSDP 2006-07.

One university each will be established in Peshawar with the collaboration of Korea at a cost of Rs11 billion, in Multan with collaboration of the Netherlands at a cost of Rs9.5 billion, in Sialkot with the collaboration with Sweden at a cost of Rs13 billion and in Uthal Balochistan with the collaboration of France at a cost of Rs9.5 billion. Similarly, Austria will help set up another university at a cost of Rs10 billion, but so far the project site has not been finalised.

The minister said there were 10 federal government universities — seven in Islamabad and one each in Karachi, Gilgit, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Virtual University of Pakistan at Lahore is still in development phase and no separate recurring funds are being provided.

Answering another question, the education minister said 108 federal government high schools were located in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and their recurring cost for the year of 2006-07 was Rs619.1 million. He further said that the number of federal government middle schools located in the ICT was 55 and their recurring cost was Rs142.2 million for the same period. Similarly, 214 federal government primary schools are located in the capital with recurring cost for the year 2006-07 at Rs462.1 million.

The minister said four federal government secondary schools - one for girls and three for boys - and one federal government model school would be established in sectors G-11/1, G-11/2, F- 11/1, I-8/4, and Margalla Town. The estimated cost of the schools is Rs192.884 million.

Replying to a question raised by Senator Chaudhry Mohammad Anwar Bhinder, he said an amount of Rs6.5 million had been provided in the financial year 2005-06 for upgradation of four primary schools to middle level.