PESHAWAR, Nov 26: Principal of Khyber Medical College (KMC) Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad has praised NWFP assembly members for passing the law to allow upgradation of the college to university.

“The landmark legislation will prove to be a milestone in the medical education sector in our province,” he said while speaking at a ceremony held here on Sunday to award gold medals to outstanding graduates of the college.

About the medical institution, he said that at the time of its establishment in 1954, it would enrol 50 students annually while the figure had now reached 300.

“A total of 1,500 students are currently studying at the college,” he added.

On Oct 12, 1989, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had announced that the college would be upgraded to the university level, and the University Grants Commission recommended its upgrading on Nov 29, 1998, he said. Later, in Oct 1999, a former chief minister announced its upgrading on behalf of then prime minister Nawaz Sharif.—Correspondent