LAHORE, Aug 10: Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired), the Punjab governor, approved on Saturday the establishment of a university of engineering and technology in Gujranwala.

He was presiding over a meeting here at the Governor’s House.

It was decided to initially start teaching in five disciplines from Sept 1 this year at the Gujranwala Polytechnic Institute building. The campus is situated in Gujranwala Saddar, 35 kilometres from the city. The location is central to Gujranwala, Sialkot, Daska, Wazirabad, Gujrat and Hafizabad.

The meeting was informed that the university would follow the model of engineering universities in Singapore and Malaysia where courses are designed according to the needs of local industry.

The governor said engineers should seek and be provided internship rather than white-collar jobs.

He said the university should recruit staff against attractive salaries on five-year contracts. Only those showing excellent performance should be given extension in service.

The meeting decided that 280 students would be admitted to electronics, mechatronics, computer engineering, mechanical engineering and manufacturing.

For selection of teachers, guidance would be sought from the Ministry of Labour’s body for Knowledge Through Expatriate Nationals and the Gujranwala and Sialkot Chambers of Commerce and Industry.