SWABI: Leaders of various political parties on Friday called on the provincial government to help the recently established University of Swabi to overcome its financial crunch.

They were speaking at a conference here called by the ‘university bachao (save) movement, which has been established by PPP district president Javed Iqilabi with the support of other parties to work collectively for protecting the interests of the university.

Leaders of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Awami National Party, Swabi Qaumi Mahaz, Qaumi Watan Party, Pakistan People’s Party and leaders of various workers’ unions participated in the gathering.

“We are determined to thwart those who want to harm the University of Swabi. There is complete unity in our ranks in this regard,” said Masood Jabar, former provincial deputy general secretary of QWP.

The participants said that previous ANP-led provincial government had decided that the university’s expenses would be met from Swabi’s share in tobacco cess and net hydel profit, but now the PTI parliamentarians were not interested in extending required funds to the varsity, where about 1,500 students were enrolled and some 300 people, including academic staff, earned their livelihood.

The political parties’ leaders said that as Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government had attached great importance to promotion of education, it should extend every support support to the varsity.

Awami National Party’s Ishfaq Ahmad said that the party had established the university without any political agenda and with the sole objective to provide higher education facilities to the youth of the backward areas.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2014