KOHAT, Sept 6: The fate of more than 30 students of engineering faculty at the Preston University hangs in the balance as the Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) has refused to recognise the institution on the grounds that it does not meet the required criteria, Dawn has learnt.

Students of the Kohat Medical College may also face the same dilemma where classes had started three years ago without approval from the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.

Preston University engineering students claim that they have spent over Rs800,000 each on their four years’ course and are now being offered unrecognised degrees. They have decided to move the court, instead of receiving the unrecognised degrees.

Khalid Mehmood, a student of the university, told Dawn that at the time of admission, the administration had issued letters to students stating that they would be given degrees duly recognised by the Higher Education Commission. He showed the copy of the letter issued with the signature of Preston University programme director Col (retd) Zafar Gul.

When contacted, the programme director told Dawn that the institution was helpless because the HEC only recognised the PEC-approved degrees.

Mr Gul said the council had twice refused to recognise the Preston University because of lack of PhD staff and a laboratory of international standard.