ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) University on Tuesday announced that its classes would start at various higher education institutions of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad from February 13. The October 8 earthquake had totally damaged both the old and new campus of the university in Muzzafarabad, besides resulting in the death of over 200 students.

The structures left standing were declared unfit for any kind of academic activity. Therefore, it was decided to move the university’s classes to the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Talking to Dawn, the spokesman for the university said with the cooperation of the federal education ministry and the Higher Education Commission (HEC), arrangements had been finalized to restart the university’s classes.

Explaining the relocation of various departments of the AJK university, he said the University of Arid Agriculture Rawalpindi had agreed to hold the classes of botany, zoology and all agriculture faculties.

On the other hand, the Bahria university under an arrangement would be accommodating students of geology and computer sciences departments.

Similarly, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) and Federal Government Postgraduate College for Boys H-8 have jointly offered their facilities for holding classes of physics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, English and economics departments.

The decision has been made to enable the students to continue their studies without any break, the spokesman said.

About the hostel arrangements, he said students of physics, mathematics, geology, botany and zoology departments had been asked to visit the camp office of the university on February 6.

Students of chemistry, English, economics and computer sciences faculties have been told to visit the camp office on February 7 for hostel allotments.

Students of University College of Agriculture, Rawalakot and the statistics department have been advised to meet the officials concerned on February 8 between 9am to 5pm. Director students affairs will be responsible for the hostel arrangements.