ISLAMABAD, Oct 13: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has approved a project for launching four-year BS programme in applied geology at University of Balochistan, Quetta.

The project costing Rs2.5 million was approved by the HEC’s Departmental Development Working Party during a meeting held on the commission’s campus.

The Higher Education Commission executive director, Dr M. Akram Sheikh, presided over the meeting.

Under the project, the BS programme will replace the present two-year MSc to meet the international standards.

The project was aimed at providing skilled geologists for various organizations like Geological Survey of Pakistan, Oil and Gas Development Company, Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation and other related academic and research organizations in public and private sectors.

The programme also focuses on research and training activities for staff and students, which would promote exploration of minerals, petroleum, underground water and marine resources of Pakistan, especially in Balochistan.

The meeting was also informed that two laboratories for Structural Geology-Geophysics and Computer Studies would also be setup under the scheme.