SAHIWAL: Almost 60 per cent of the development work funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) at the University of Sahiwal (UoS) has been completed over the past 30 months.

The remaining work, scheduled for completion by December 2025, is now facing multiple delays due to a number of hurdles.

The UoS has proposed a three-year revision in original PC-I and extension along with a substantial increase in the development budget — from Rs1.336 billion to Rs3 billion.

According to official sources, major components of the original project were awarded by UoS to an Islamabad-based firm known as STC Engineers and Constructors (Pvt) Ltd, while Development Consultancy Services Ltd was appointed as the project consultant.

Though the original PC-I was approved in 2020, construction began in 2023 due to administrative and logistical challenges, including the absence of a permanent VC, changes in contractors, rising cost of construction material, delayed release of funds, and some other technical issues.

With three months remaining in the original timeline, both the executing agency and contractor are seeking an extension in both duration and budget.

Dr Amin, director of Planning and Development, UOS, confirmed to Dawn that 35pc of the work remains incomplete. The original scope of the project includes construction of an academic block to accommodate 3,000–4,000 students, faculty offices, an administrative block, a students hostel, a bachelor faculty hostel, and common facilities such as a library, mosque and medical center.

It also includes provision of furniture and fixtures for new buildings, ICT infrastructure, laboratory equipment to strengthen teaching labs, and operational transport.

According to the university’s latest progress report submitted to the Commissioner Office, the VC house has been completed and is operational, while structural work is underway on the academic and administrative blocks. Common facilities and external development have been substantially completed by STC. However, no contracts have yet been awarded for the construction of faculty offices, boys hostel, or the bachelor faculty hostel. This causes a main delay in completion of the original tender.

Dr Amin attributed the delays primarily to irregular fund flow from HEC. Vice Chancellor Dr Akhter Javed acknowledged the setbacks and confirmed that UOS is seeking a revision of the original PC-1 in terms of both funding and timeline.

Sources close to the matter revealed that the university is requesting a 55pc increase in the originally allocated funds, along with a three-year extension to complete the remaining work.

Mr Tariq Masood, CEO, STC, admitted there were delays in the initial phases but expressed confidence that tasks would be completed under the revised PC-1.

A source told Dawn all construction contracts were initially awarded to a single firm (STC) while at that time of planning it was decided work would be awarded to different contractors.

The university currently enrolls over 7,000 male and female students.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2025