PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Friday approved 16 degree colleges to be established in various districts at an estimated cost of Rs5 billion, and directed immediate execution of the project.

He also directed that the existing government degree colleges at the districts headquarters be converted into modern model colleges.

He issued these orders while speaking at two separate meetings at the CM Secretariat here, according to a statement.

Special assistant to the chief minister for higher education and information Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani, secretary higher education department, commissioner Kohat division, SNGPL general manager and relevant officers were in attendance.

The new colleges — 10 for girls and six for boys — would be set up in Swat, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Abbottabad, Peshawar, Chitral, Buner, Nowshera, DI Khan, Mardan, Lakki Marwat and Charsadda districts.

Mr Khattak directed the education department to strictly follow the provincial government’s policy for establishing new colleges under a uniformed design, standard, and equip them with all the facilities, including accommodation for students.

The chief minister directed the relevant authorities to give priority to the natural gas producing areas in gas, public health and higher education schemes to bring the people out of backwardness.

He said a major chunk of the funds received on account of oil and gas royalty would be made available for these schemes.

He also directed the divisional administration of Kohat division to form district level committees comprising local MPAs, district nazim, deputy commissioner and representatives of SNGPL to identify schemes by mutual consultation.

He said such committees should also convince the gas consumers to pay their utility bills.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2015

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