SWABI, Nov 29: The provincial government will build a medical college and women’s university in Swabi district to promote higher education, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar while addressing a function in the University of Swabi (UoS) here on Friday.

He said that it was essential for Pakhtuns to get higher education so they could face the modern day challenges. He said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government was giving priority to restoration of peace, education and health.

Mr Qaisar said that the medical college had been named after great Pakhtun leader Gaju Khan. He said that the government had also planned to strengthen academic position of the UoS among all universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, he did not speak about the unrecognised status of the university. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has not yet recognised the UoS, which is creating doubts in the minds of its students.

“The government has given Rs500 million to the University of Swabi for acquiring land and completing other basic requirements. We would provide more funds to the varsity,” he said.

Mr Qaisar said that the women’s university in Swabi would facilitate the girls from Buner, Mardan, Nowshera and lower parts of Malakand division. “We have also been striving to build another cadet college besides Kernel Sher Cadet College in the district,” he said.

The provincial government has also planned to build an education city in the district. “In this connection we have already signed a memorandum of understanding with the British Council,” he said.

Prof Noor Jehan, vice-chancellor of the UoS, spoke about the curricular and co-curricular activities of the university and its performance since its establishment.

Abdul Wali Khan University vice-chancellor Dr Ihsan Ali said that the establishment of several universities and colleges during the last few years had made it clear that the government was giving due importance to education.