GILGIT, Aug 1: The Karakoram International University will spend about Rs65million on setting up new facilities on campus. Officials said that the amount had been sanctioned by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) for launching projects like the construction of a gatehouse and a guard room, a language laboratory, a seminar hall, student common rooms and a generator room.

The project also included purchase of equipment for the language laboratory, technical and vocational workshops, fixtures and furniture for early childhood development centre, containers for stores and workshops, two buses and a coaster and on-campus internet facility at the campus. According to sources, the university had been beset by several problems since it started working in 2002. They said that in the wake of an increase in enrolments, lack of facilities increased pressure on the university’s resources. The sources said that the university had planned to initiate a technical and a vocational institute with an initial investment of Rs18.76 million. They said that there were currently 1,500 students enrolled in the university, adding that one-third of students were women studying in its 10 departments. It had a total of 78 faculty members, including three professors, an associate professor, 74 four lecturers and 236 support staff.

The Northern Areas’ remoteness was impeding the induction of senior professors at the university as no senior professor was willing to join it despite being offered high salary package and other perks, they said.