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NAWABSHAH, May 24: The academic council of the People’s Medical College (PMC) for girls has rejected a proposal of the Sindh health department to introduce co-education in the college. At a meeting held here on Tuesday, members of the council passed a resolution against the proposal.
Sources told Dawn that high-ups in the Sindh health department had directed the PMC principal to take views of professors and get the decision approved by the academic council.
The sources said a decision in this connection had already been taken and a formal announcement was expected soon.
The People’s Medical College is the only girls college in the province which was established by the Z.A. Bhutto government in 1974.
At present, over 800 students from different parts of the country and from the USA, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh and the Philippines were studying in the college.
PMC principal Prof (Dr) Ali Akbar Ghumro said the matter of changing the the status to coeducation was discussed in the session of the academic council and all the members had rejected the proposal.
He said lecture rooms and girls’ hostels were constructed side-by-side and it would be very difficult to face the situation in case the decision is implemented.
Dr Qayoom Memon, assistant professor of medicine, said there were medical colleges for women in Punjab and the NWFP and questioned as to why the only girls medical college of Sindh was being converted to coeducation, he said.
He said there were many families who admit their daughters to the PMC because they felt their daughters were safe and secured there and studying in a peaceful atmosphere.
Dr Noor Mohammad Khaskheli, assistant professor surgery, said the council had rejected the decision and it would not be feasible as there was no more space available.
District Nazim Faryal Talpur said she was shocked to hear the news and she would take up the matter with the higher authorities.
She said girls from all over the country come to study in the college because of protective atmosphere and if the PMC’s status was changed, it would add to their difficulties.
DIVISION REJECTED: Members of the district council have rejected the proposed division of the Nawabshah district and taluka.
At a council session here on Tuesday, members Khurram Yar Brohi, Shafiq Qureshi and Dr Basheer Jamali presented a resolution, rejecting division of the district. Convenor Khalid Hussain Channa presided over the session.
Taluka Nazim Ali Akbar Jamali said Naushahro Feroze was carved out of the Nawabshah district and at present there was no need of new district and talukas.
District Nazim Faryal Talpur said the division was undemocratic and they would strongly oppose it at all levels and only few people were interested in it.
She said the LB system was introduced to end difference of rural and urban people but a conspiracy was being hatched to divide the people of Nawabshah on ethnic lines.
ROTATION SYSTEM: The executive engineer of the Nusrat irrigation division has announced a rotation programme in the Nusrat branch on the basis of availability of water.
According to the schedule, in Nawabshah-II sub-division, DOs of the Nusrat branch from Darya Khan X-regulator to 60-miles X-regulator, Manjhar minor and Dhoro Khunjano minor would remain closed from May 24 to June 1.
In Nawabshah-I sub-division, DOs of Gajrah branch from RD-0 to Nawabshah X-regulator, Chodiko distributary, Dhoro Naro minor, Khiyaryoon minor, Jheemal minor, Panjo Chan minor, Nawaz Dahri minor and Chan Babu distributary would remain closed from May 25 to June 1.
In Nawabshah-I sub-division, group-II, Kandi minor, Daro minor, DOs of Gujrah branch from RD-0 to Nawabshah X-regulator, Dhoro Naro minor, Khiyaryoon minor, Jheemal minor, Nawaz Dahri minor, Panjo Chan minor, Chan Babu distributary, DOs Nawabshah X-regulator to Nawaz Dahri X-regulator would remain closed from June 1 to June 9.
