ISLAMABAD: The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) of the Planning Commission has approved eight projects of the higher education sector worth Rs28.872 billion.

These include scholarships and improving infrastructure and other facilities.

“These projects were included in the budget for this fiscal year and were unapproved. Funding for these projects will be released in later stages and the first instalment will be released in the coming month,” said Higher Education Commission spokesperson Ayesha Ikram. She added that the projects will be completed over the next three to four years.

She said a Rs20.904 billion worth Overseas Scholarships Program (Phase-III) has been approved for sending 2,000 Pakistani scholars to foreign universities for doctoral studies.

The other approved projects include the establishment of a Rs603.093 million worth College of Nursing and Community Medicine at People’s University of Medical Sciences in Nawabshah, the establishment of a sub-campus of the National Textile University at Karachi at the cost of Rs875.563 million and the establishment of a science laboratory and creative art centre at Sukkur IBA University worth Rs852.694 million.

A project for the development of academic and research facilities at the University of Kotli was also approved as was the establishment of women campuses in Kohat and Bannu worth Rs1.957 billion and an institute of science and technology at Bahawalpur at the cost of Rs2.290 billion.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2018