GUJAR KHAN: Establishment of the University of Chakwal (UoC) was a dream that is becoming a reality and would prove to be a beacon of light for local students, Provincial Minister for Higher Education and Information Technology Raja Yassir Humayun Sarfraz said on Sunday.

Talking to Dawn, the minister said a fully funded Annual Development Programme (ADP) of Rs1.4 billion was approved for the construction of the university campus. He said the project was the joint ownership of the city as locals contributed funds towards raising different buildings.

The foundation of UoC was laid by Prime Minister Imran Khan near Balkasar area two years ago, which is nearing completion, Mr Sarfraz said.

The request for establishment of the city campus was also submitted to the Punjab government so that students of Chakwal city did not travel 16km to Balkasar daily, he said.

The PC-I for the city campus has been approved and Rs1.4 billion allocated for the construction of the campus, the minister said.

“Two academic blocks, an admin block and male and female hostels would be built and renovation carried out with the fund,” the provincial minister said, adding that construction of the city campus would be completed by 2024.

“The Ministry of Higher Education was my favourite portfolio that has played a constructive role in the establishment of a public university in Chakwal. The engineering campus of the university in Balkasar is under construction and is expected to finish by the next year,” Mr Sarfraz said.

“Campuses of the university would be spread in different areas of Chakwal including Chakwal city, Balkasar and Murid. Land is being acquired in Murid area of Chakwal for construction of several facilities. The vision for this university is to have 30,000-40,000 students and to be an exemplary university of the Rawalpindi Division,” he said, adding that there was no major public university in the division like Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad.

He said: “Many intelligent female students from different areas of Chakwal were deprived of higher education as they were not allowed to get admissions in far-off cities. Now, those students would benefit the most as they can get higher education near their homes. To further create educational facilities for female students who cannot study in co-educational institutions due to conservative backgrounds, female government colleges in Chakwal and Talagang have been affiliated with the UoC and upgraded for BS programmes.”

Published in Dawn, March 21st, 2022