NAROWAL: Classes at the Government Girls College of Technology in Narowal have failed to commence for eight years.

The college building, completed in 2015 at a cost of Rs55 million, saw an unexpected turn when, in the same year, boys’ classes began instead of the intended girls’ classes.

The building was constructed on five acres, donated in 2013 by the family of the late social personality Chaudhry Akbar Ali Khan.

Local journalist Yasir Arafat says Ahsan Iqbal, then federal minister for planning and development, initiated the construction work, completing the formal construction of the college in 2015. However, in 2016, the Punjab government established a college for boys instead of girls.

This decision has led to seven years of boys’ classes in a facility originally intended for providing technical education and training to girls.

Eighteen-year-old Komal Fatima, of Chandowal village, a suburb of Narowal, says that despite securing 930 marks in her matric exams, she could not pursue technical education as the Government Boys College of Technology refused her admission based on gender.

Saira Saleem, 20-year-old dress designing enthusiast and graduate from neighbourhood Khawajgan Narowal City, faced rejection twice at the boys college when attempting to obtain a diploma in dress designing. She said she was forced to seek education in Gujranwala. She said there is need for a technical college for girls in Narowal to commence classes, saving aspiring students from venturing outside their hometowns for technical education.

Sajida Parveen, vice president of the Association of Human Rights, Narowal district, expressed deep regret over the continuous denial of basic rights to women, particularly in technical education. She called upon the prime minister and the chief minister to take notice of the situation.

Muhammad Idris, vice principal of the Government College of Technology Narowal, said a disparity has been created by the Punjab government and Tevta, which launched technology college classes for boys in the buildings intended for the girl students. Despite the building’s purpose, Tevta neither recruited female teachers nor planned to launch regular classes.

Muhammad Ashraf Nasir, college principal, shed light on the initiation of boys’ classes in the girls’ college building in 2016 due to the non-availability of a technical college building for boys. He claimed that the construction of the Government Boys College of Technology building has been completed, and classes have started from this year.

The building of the girls college has been evacuated, and efforts are underway to start classes for female students soon. He said letters were written to the Punjab government seeking teachers and other requirements for launching regular classes in the girls’ college. It is hoped that during the current year, classes for female students will be launched.

MNA-elect Ahsan Iqbal assured that all efforts and resources would be utilised to expedite the commencement of classes for students in the building of Government Girls College of Technology Narowal.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2024