DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa acting Governor Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of Dera Ismail Khan University of Agricultural.

The varsity will be built over 1,000 kanals of land.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, Mr Ghani said the district had great agricultural potential and such initiatives would lead to development of the sector in the area.

He said research in modern agriculture was need of the hour and the agriculture varsity would play key role to this effect by promoting quality research in the sector.

Mr Ghani said most people of Dera were associated with agriculture and the university was a gift for them.

He also inaugurated a tree plantation campaign, and distributed prizes to the students, who showed outstanding performance in the annual sports gala organised by the University of Agriculture.

It is to mention here that the Peshawar High Court’s Dera Division Bench had directed to stop the asset distribution between Gomal University and the University of Agriculture, Dera.

The assets included 4,000 students, buildings, etc.

The Gomal University administration had asked the University of Agriculture to pay for the 1,000 kanals of land to be used for its construction.

However, the KP acting governor had sent Gomal University Vice-Chancellor Iftikhar Ahmed on forced leave for three months and had announced the establishment of the agriculture university without paying the price of 1,000 kanals to Gomal University.

Former prime minister Imran Khan had also laid the foundation stone of the university over two years ago. Still, the issues of land and assets between the two varsities remain unresolved.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2022