LAHORE, May 31: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the first information technology university in the country is being set up in the provincial metropolis and special funds will be allocated for this purpose in the next financial year.

He said the provincial government would provide free-of-cost land for the Punjab Technology University (PTU) which would be managed by an autonomous board for keeping the highest standard of computer education.

The chief minister was addressing a function after soft opening of the project of the PTU at the Arfa Karim Software Technology Park here on Thursday.

According to a handout, the chief minister said the first campus of the PTU had been set up on the sixth floor of Arfa Karim Software Technology Park where classes would be started from September this year.

He said over 1,000 boy and girl students would be equipped with modern education in computer science in this campus while 6,000 students would study in the permanent campus of the PTU at Dera Rakh Chahal on Ring Road.

He said that on the occasion of 2008 elections he had announced transforming the palace-like office at 8-Club Road into an IT university for women but unfortunately this project had become a victim of red tapism.

He said that he had never entered into this palatial building but the promise made on elections had been honoured today.

The chief minister said that educational expenses of 500 brilliant students at the PTU would be paid from the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund.

He said the permanent campus of the PTU would be set up over 705 acres of land at Dera Rakh Chahal near Ring Road with the collaboration of Middle East Technical University of Turkey.

Provincial Education Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman said the PTU would serve as the center of excellence and provide a strong foundation for the national development.

Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Javed Leghari said the establishment of PTU would bring about a revolution in the IT sector.

Punjab Information Technology Board chairman Dr Umar Saif said that an IT university of international standard being established in the provincial metropolis would play an important role in equipping the youth with modern knowledge.