ABBOTTABAD, June 19: The Higher Education Commission has agreed in principle to establish an engineering university of international standard in Abbottabad. The HEC plans to establish six universities in different parts of the country.

Talking to Dawn here on Monday, NWFP HEC director Farmanullah Anjum said Abbottabad District Nazim Sardar Haider Zaman had asked HEC chairman Dr Attaur Rehman to set up one of the six universities in Abbottabad.

He said the HEC chairman had directed him to visit Abbottabad and hold a meeting with the district government in this regard.

He said he had held a meeting with the district nazim and the district revenue officer to identify a land for construction of a building for the university. He pointed out that the HEC required at least 125 acres of land for the university. He said the district nazim had identified a 156.25-acre patch near Havelian but the same had been transferred in the name of the Hazara University, Mansehra.

He said the district nazim of Abbottabad had assured the HEC that he would take up the matter with the government and secure the required land for the university.

Mr Anjum said that in order to establish the hi-tech engineering university in Abbottabad, the required land must be obtained within a couple of months because the HEC could not delay the project.