GILGIT: The Karakoram International University (KIU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Mohammad Asif Khan has vowed to make the varsity a centre of quality learning in Gilgit-Baltistan.

He announced to establish a centre for cultural and heritage studies in the varsity’s main campus for preservation and promotion of unique cultural and arts history of the region.

Addressing ‘meet the press programme’ at KIU main campus in Gilgit on Saturday, Asif Khan lamented that so far nothing had been done for conservation of the cultural heritage of the area.

He said that Higher Education Commission had approved Rs48 million for construction of the Skardu campus of KIU.

Replying to a question, the vice-chancellor said that the KIU’s main campus lacked facilities of girls hostels and transportation. “I have informed the HEC and the region’s governor about the problems,” he added.

Asif Khan said that inquiries had been initiated into alleged irregularities in appointments of faculty and administrative staff and emblazonment of university funds during the tenure of former VC Dr Najma Najam.

He said that Rs46 million had been approved for establishment of engineering department in the main campus. He said that 99 per cent local students would be preferred for various foreign scholarships being offered by government and non-government organisations.

He also pointed out that KIU students had been neglected in the laptop distribution scheme. However, he said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would himself distribute laptops among the students during his visit to the region.

TEACHERS UPGRADED: The regional government has upgraded 164 government schoolteachers.

According a notification issued by the GB education department here on Saturday, the teachers belonging to seven districts of the region had been upgraded under the time-scale and upgradation formula.

It said that 23 teachers had been promoted to BS-19, six to BS-18, 24 to BS-17, five to BS-16 and six to BS-15, respectively.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2015

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