RAWALPINDI: Due to the apathy of the higher education department of Punjab, a government-run degree college in Rawalpindi has been without a principal as well as electricity for the last six years.

The Government Degree College for Boys at Chakri was set up in 2007 by the then PML-Q government.

The institution was established in a building built by the National Highway and Motorway Police.

Later, the successive governments of PPP and PML-N did not pay any heed towards the college.

Though classes were started in 2009, the government failed to appoint the principal and provide missing facilities.

“This is a very unfortunate political tradition. Political leaders don’t want to follow policies of their opponents...and the same is happening with this college,” said an official in the education department who did not want to be named.

He said since its establishment the college had been without electricity and principal, forcing the youth of the area to seek admission in other colleges.

At present, the college has only 84 students — 82 in the intermediate and two in the graduation classes.

“How can we offer science subjects when we have no electricity, no computer and no lab for conducting experiments,” said a lecturer of the college who also wished not to be named.

In the absence of the principal, a lecturer of grade 17, Abdul Haleem Basit, is looking after the affairs of the college.

“Students come here to take admissions but after seeing the condition of the college, they change their plan. We even don’t have the prospectus to offer to the students,” said another lecturer.

“Several times principals were transferred to the college but before reporting to the institution they managed to get their transfer orders cancelled.

“No one seems ready to work in a college which does not have basic facilities like electricity,” said a source in the education department.

Talking to Dawn, Deputy Director (Colleges) Rana Javed confirmed that the institution was waiting for its maiden principal and electricity.

He, however, said recently the government released funds for the improvement of the college.

“Funds have been released for the provision of electricity and construction of the boundary wall and roof ceiling in the college.

In the next couple of weeks, almost all the basic problems of the college will be resolved,” he said.

In reply to a question, he said the principal can be appointed by the secretary higher education.

“Earlier, professors were not willing to join the college but now we have finalised two names of senior professors.

“In a few days we will send a summary to the secretary higher education department for choosing one of them as the principal,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor Liaqat Abbasi, the president of the Professor and Lecturer Association, Rawalpindi division, said: “On one hand the government is demanding better results from the college teachers and on the other has failed to appoint even principals in some institutions.”