CHAKWAL: The Punjab government has finally announced that it will set up a university in Chakwal.

This was disclosed by Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht during his budget speech on Friday.

The minister also announced that the foundation stone of five other universities would be laid during the current fiscal year. These five universities would be established in Murree, Rawalpindi, Mianwali, Bhakkar and Nankana.

Sharing the details of the newly approved universities, Punjab Minister for Higher Education and Tourism Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz told Dawn that his government had resolved to set up a university in every district of the province while a divisional university would be established in every division of the province.

“Among the newly-approved six universities, a divisional university which has been named as, ‘University of North Punjab’ would be established in Chakwal while Murree would have Kohsar University. Similarly four more universities would be built in Mianwali, Rawalpindi, Bhakkar and Nankana,” he said.

He explained that the divisional university would be larger compared to the district universities.

“The main campus of the University of North Punjab would be established in the surroundings of Balkassar near Islamabad-Lahore Motorway while its other colleges would be built on the land owned by government in different areas of the districts but these colleges would be near to the main campus,” he said, adding that the University of North Punjab would offer quality education in the fields of science, technology, business and agriculture.

“This university would be built at a cost of Rs5 billion while Rs500 million has been allocated for the current fiscal year,” Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz said.

He added that although it would take five years for completion of this mega project, classes would commence next year.

“Government Postgraduate College Chakwal would be affiliated to this university,” he added.

Terming the project the most important milestone in the history of Chakwal, Mr Sarfraz said establishment of the university would not only bring educational revolution in the district, it would boost the economy and employment opportunities in the district as well.

“The most striking aspect of this university would be its ideal location near the Motorway which would attract students from the surrounding districts while teachers not willing to serve in small cities would love to teach at this university as due to the motorway, teachers belonging to Islamabad and Rawalpindi would be able to reach their homes within one hour after delivering lectures,” he said.

The people of Chakwal hailed the announcement of establishment of the university on social media.

“It is a historic day as a dream has finally came true because of the enthusiastic and dedicated efforts of Provincial Minister Raja Yasir Humayun Sarfraz,” said Prof Shahid Azad, the district president of Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association.

He added that as the newly approved university would serve a greater part of Punjab, strengthening local colleges is of prime importance too since poor and middle classes will still be looking for affordable education.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2019