SWABI, May 12: President General Pervez Musharraf, who is also chancellor of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, has said that the government would provide funds for the construction of two hostels at the institute.

GIK Institute Rector Prof Mohammad Naseer Khan told reporters here on Wednesday that he gave a presentation to the president at the President's Camp Office, Rawalpindi, on Tuesday and Gen Musharraf had told him that the government would provide funds for the construction of the hostels.

The rector said that the president gave instructions that the government should pick up the total debt servicing burden of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan (SOPREST); formulate procedure for the grant of research, productivity allowance, and other incentives on merit to GIK Institute by the Ministry of Science and Technology/Higher Education Commission.

The president said that the government was committed to promoting education in science and technology as advancement in those fields was vital for rapid economic development of the country.

He said the government was fully conscious that institutes of higher education serve as engines of economic and industrial advancement of nations. "Therefore, such institutions must strive for attaining higher standards of education and we will encourage attaining higher standard in academic excellence," he added.

President Musharraf appreciated the performance of the institute. The president further advised the Higher Education Commission to provide development fund to the GIK Institute as an exception.

He advised the board of governors of the institute that all measures should be taken to retain and attract professional faculty and other staff such as increasing their salary package.

The president asked various questions about the academic activities of the institute and its future planning Mr Khan about the mission, academic facilities, financial aspects and achievements of the institute.

Mr Khan informed the president about the academic facilities, international advisory board, collaboration with the world distinguished institutions in Europe and USA, research activities, modern equipped labs, research publications, conferences organized, workshops, industrial linkage, open house and career fair, co-curricular activities, financial assistance and civic facilities.

About the future plant the rector said the main priority was to strengthen the labs and modernized them; and the institute desire to go into the new areas such as renewable energy resources.