October 07, 2006	Saturday	Ramazan 13, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 6: Work on the construction of new building of Azad Jammu and Kashmir University will start in the next two month.

This was stated by Dr. Attaur Rahman, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) while speaking at “Martyrs of October 8 Conference” held at the Bahria University Auditorium here on Friday.

The faculties of Sciences, Arts and Agriculture of the unique university had been relocated after the earthquake at Islamabad where classes were being held at Bahria University, UAAR, AIOU and Federal Directorate of Education.

The University was unique in the sense that it was a multi-campus and multi-discipline university, consisting of the main campus, based at Muzaffarabad, and four faculties at other three campuses. The main campus is a combination of basic sciences and humanities.

Dr Attaur Rahman condoled with the parents of martyred students and said that “the departed souls needed our prayers and not tears”. He reminded the gathering that though the calamity caused loss of life and property of massive proportions, it also brought out the best in the nation, and that feeling of unity and oneness should be sustained.

Speaking on the re-construction of the university he vowed to make it one of the finest universities a country could have.

Raja Zulqarnain Khan, President, Azad Jammu and Kashmir at a sombre ceremony to commemorate those who lost their lives in the October 8 earthquake last year said “the best manner to pay homage to those who left us in the wake of the worst natural disaster in our history, is to make their alma mater a state of the art university”.

The President shared the loss of grieving parents and family members of 108 University students, four faculty members and five employees who lost their lives in the rubble of the earthquake. He said they would always be remembered but one must look forward.

He stressed the need for working for a bright future. He said that apart from the gallantry shown by the rescue teams of the university students and staff a hero that must be praised was Dr. Attaur Rahman, Chairman Higher Education Commission, who had pledged a new university at the same site with the best facilities possible would be made available for the students.

Dr Mansoor Khan, Vice Chancellor of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir recounted the destruction of Oct 8 and remembered those who lost their lives.

He lauded the unprecedented step of re-locating the university in Islamabad a step which helped save the academic year of 1300 male and 800 female students. He said that the disaster did not break the spirit of the Kashmiri nation and he was satisfied to see the objectives of reviving and sustaining the educational process achieved.

He informed the gathering that pre-fabricated structures for the university would be inaugurated on Oct 8 this year and the university would be returning home soon. He praised and expressed gratitude to Ripah University, University of Arid Agriculture, Allama Iqbal Open University, Fatima Jinnah University, Federal Directorate of Education and H-8 Degree College in allowing his university to hold regular classes. He particularly praised Dr Atta-ur-Rehman for the financial, administrative and material support in their hour of need.