MURREE: People of Murree have demanded that the Government House at Kashmir Point should be converted into a university instead of making it a resort as announced by the federal government.

During the government of the PML-N, the establishment of a university in Murree was the major demand of the locals. Even the PTI local leadership, including the party’s current MNA Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, had been demanding that the Government House should be made a university.

The conversion of the house into a university could save millions of rupees that would be needed to construct a new building for the university, said the locals.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had announced in 2013 that a university would be set up in Murree but he could not fulfil his promise. Later, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who was the MNA from Murree, carried out deliberations for the establishment of the university. Many sites were considered for the project and an amount of Rs300 million was also allocated in the budget. However, no progress was made on the project.

Hafiz Saeed Ahmad, president of a local NGO, said the locals had been demanding establishment of a university for years. About 0.3 million people of the area are compelled to send their children to Rawalpindi and Islamabad for higher education and it is quite difficult rather impossible for them to send their wards, especially girls, to big cities due financial and cultural constraints.

Sufyan Abbasi, who was a candidate for the National Assembly seat, also demanded that the Government House should be converted into a university as it was the most suitable and approachable place from all localities of Murree town.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2018