KARACHI, Sept 25: A delegation comprising students of the Dawood College of Engineering and Technology, Karachi on Saturday called on the Federal Education Minister, Javed Ashraf Qazi , in Islamabad and apprised him of the present situation at their college, including protests by students and the college principal's attitude.

A representative of the students action committee, DCET told PPI from Islamabad that owing to cancellation of their college's accreditation by the Pakistan Engineering Council, the passed out batch of 1995-96 was facing difficulties in getting employment.

They informed the minister that the 1996-97 batch was waiting for exams while students of the next batch had started a boycott of classes, since they saw no future for themselves without the PEC's registration.

"Owing to cancellation of DCET's accreditation by the PEC, all students are concerned and have been protesting for the last two weeks," they observed.

The Federal Education Minister, Javed Ashraf Qazi, said he that had approved a grant of Rs30 million for upgrading labs and classes at the DCET so that it could meet the PEC's requirements, adding that he had also directed the principal to overcome the shortage of faculty and equipment at the college.

The minister informed the visiting students that he would soon visit their college and hold separate meetings with students, employees, teachers and the management, and take important decisions.- PPI