ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: The first ever Punjabi university of the country will be functional in Lahore next month with the plans of expansion and establishment of its regional campuses in other parts of the country.

This was stated by World Punjabi Congress chairman Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman at a press conference here on Monday.

He said the blueprint for the university was ready, adding that the disciplines to be offered in the first phase would include languages (Punjabi, Urdu and English) and social sciences.

Giving details of the social science courses, he said it would include mass communication, fine arts, philosophy, political science, economics and sociology. He said a new subject of comparative religion would also be introduced.

Mr Zaman said the university would also offer diploma courses in Balochi, Pushto, Sindhi and Hindi, adding that it would be beneficial in the context of national integration.

He said initially the university would be housed in a rented building and the construction of its own building would take some two years after acquisition of land.

He said Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi would be requested to provide land for the institution.

He said linkages have been established with some prominent Indian universities from where known academicians including Dr Surinder Singh Noor, Dr Deepak Manmohan, Kamlesh Mohan, Dr Fatima Hussain, Prof Gotham and Prof Manju Jaidku would be coming as visiting scholars.

He said the Amarta Pritam chair would be instituted, while Pritam award would be given for best Punjabi creative literature.