MIRPUR, Nov 1: The AJK government has, in principle, decided to set up a women’s university in Azad Jammu and Kashmir to provide higher education to women in the area.

Official sources said that the state government had finalised a broad-based plan to set up the university in near future, which would be the first institution of higher education exclusively for women in the area.

About the proposal of establishing medical college in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said the government was reviewing its technical aspects and feasibility.

The government had also decided to set up polytechnic institutes in all eight districts of AJK. Under a broad-based plan to promote I.T and computer education, setting up of software parks and I.T institutes in all eight district headquarters was also under consideration. The government was also contemplating to double scholarships for fresh graduates, sources added.

Institutes of career counseling and educational academy were being set up to impart training to youths and college teachers respectively. Easy-term loans would be provided to skilled and educated youths for setting up small businesses and industries in AJK to overcome unemployment among educated youths.

Under a broad-based plan to promote college-level education throughout the Azad Kashmir, the government was planning rebuilding one college each in the quake-hit districts of Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Rawalakot and Paiandri, besides establishing two degree colleges in Bhirnber, and Burnalla.

Academic and non-academic staff was being appointed according to requirement of these institutions.

The foreign-funded project in the Northern Education Phase-ii was also under process in AJK and more institutions would be set up to raise standard of education in the area, sources added.

Sources said the government had also planned to set up at least a dozen more intermediate colleges all over AJK and millions of rupees had been allocated for these projects. These schemes were included in the already approved projects related to the education sector, the sources added. —APP