KHAIRPUR: Highlighting the significance of women empowerment in all sectors and governance, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has announced allocation of 50 acres and Rs90 million for the establishment of a women university in Sukkur in the first phase.

The senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader was presiding over a meeting at the Sukkur Commissioner House on Tuesday. It was attended by Sukkur Commissioner Abbas Baloch, Deputy Commissioner Dr Waheed Asghar, Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Parveen Shah and other relevant officials.

“Women education is neglected in our society. Women participation in politics, education, economy and other sectors as well as legislation process is essential to bring the weaker section of society in the mainstream governance,” Mr Shah observed citing vision of PPP leaders and former prime ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

“Keeping in view the significance of women education, the Sindh government plans to establish a women university in Sukkur so that women of the division could get quality education,” he said, and asked the commissioner to prepare a master plan for the project.

Mr Shah said that 50 acres of land next to the Arts and Design College site would be allocated for the university. He said the component of faculty development with the aim of providing scholarship opportunities to teachers should be incorporated in the plan.

Speaking at the meeting, Salu VC Prof Dr Parveen Shah said that women should be imparted higher education at their doorstep. She acknowledged and appreciated the cooperation and assistance being extended by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Syed Khursheed Shah for the establishment of the university. She said women were the deprived segment of society.

It was decided at the meeting that the old hostel building of the Govt Girls Degree College would be handed over to Salu for use as the campus of the proposed university.

The meeting was informed that initially classes would be started under the Salu administration and admissions to three departments — English, computer science and business administration — would be offered to willing students.

The leader of the opposition pledged an allocation of Rs90 million to meet the developmental and operational cost of the campus.

Later, the possession of the old hostel site was formally handed over to the Salu vice chancellor at a ceremony by director of colleges, Sukkur region, Prof Dr Hafiz Abdul Bari Indhar and Govt Girls Degree College, Sukkur, principal Prof Anjum Ara.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2016