ISLAMABAD: In a meeting on Wednesday, the vice-chancellor of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) told senators about the problems the varsity is facing, including being denied the construction of a boundary wall, concerns for students’ health and a shortage of armed security personnel.

With Senator Rahila Magsi in the chair, the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training heard a briefing from IIUI VC Dr Masoom Yasinzai who said that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has been denying the varsity the construction of a boundary wall.

The VC also complained about the CDA’s asphalt mixing plant near the university on Kashmir Highway and said the plant can be hazardous to students’ health.

He also talked about the slum next to the university and argued that it could prove to be a security risk. The varsity has a shortage of armed guards because of a ban on obtaining arms licenses.

The committee said CDA should allow IIUI to build a boundary wall to improve security in the campus.

The meeting also discussed security concerns in educational institutions across the country and chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Mukhtar Ahmed said he will be meeting with Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to discuss the matter.

Talking about the future of the university, the varsity’s Dr Yasinzai told the committee that efforts were underway for establishing a sub-campus in Saudia Arabia.

“We have requested the Saudi government to allow us to establish a campus in Jeddah,” he said, and that the incumbent president of the university, Dr Ahmed Yousif Ahmed Al Draiweesh, was appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Saudi king.

When discussing researches being carried out by various universities, senators asked the HEC chairman to come up with a policy for what kind of researches should be encouraged at universities, which are relevant to the problems being faced by the country and to present the policy at the next meeting of the committee.

Published in Dawn, May 12th, 2016