SAHIWAL, April 11 The National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Private) Limited has approved the master plan for the construction of the Bahauddin Zakariya University`s sub-campus in Sahiwal. The groundbreaking ceremony is likely to be held in a month`s time.

The master plan has been submitted to the BZU vice-chancellor for final approval and starting the construction work on the project, Dawn learnt on Friday.

This sub-campus will be constructed over 57.97 acres in front of the Government College, Sahiwal, and will cater to 2,750 master`s and undergraduate students in 24 disciplines upon its completion in a three-year time.

According to sources, the federal government had already approved Rs478.87 million for the campus construction while the varsity administration was aspiring for another Rs500 million from the provincial government.

In 2005, the BZU had opened its sub-campus on the premises of the Government College, Sahiwal, by taking 24 acres under a three-year lease agreement. Initially, as many as 150 students got admission in three disciplines, MBA, MBA (Executive) and BBA (Honours), and this development helped many students of Sahiwal and suburbs, especially girls, get higher education at their doorstep. Prior to this, they had to travel to Multan or Lahore for this purpose.

"Parents feel comfortable in sending their girls in institutes of advance learning, preferably in the same city. Had this sub-campus not existed, I could not have gotten my higher education," Hamna, a BBA student, told Dawn.

Presently, around 570 students are studying at the sub-campus offering six disciplines, including Master`s in Applied Psychology, English and Economics.

The BZU administration has also sanctioned a university bus for the sub-campus to pick and drop students, reducing the travelling problems of many, especially the girls. The new purpose-built campus will house an academic block, hostels for students and teachers, swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts.

Besides, it will have central library, conference hall, computer centre, gymnasium, student service centre, cricket ground, faculty residences and a cafeteria.

"The groundbreaking ceremony will be held very soon. I assure the people of Sahiwal that upon its completion, the sub-campus will emerge as a centre of excellence," Project Director Dr Muhammad Saleem Bhutto told Dawn.—Shafiq Butt