ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Sajid Hussain Turi has announced launch of the first ever university in the newly merged districts, ex-FATA.
This University is a catalyst project for the people of tribal areas who have been deprived of their basic rights since the creation of Pakistan. The Minister had a meeting with Chairman Higher Education Commission Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed.
It was decided in the meeting that one university will be established in every district of ex-FATA (commonly known as newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) so that the students there do not face any difficulties in obtaining higher education and they are not deprived of their basic right of getting higher education.
Turi said the progress and prosperity of the region depended on quality education. He said the educated youth would have more opportunities in this era of competition. He said education is a form of investment as it provides a stream of income just as any other investment would.
The Minister said that it has been ardent desire that universities be established in all tribal districts including Karam district and today he is happy to announce that Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) in Karam district is being established. He said a formal decision has been taken to establish a university in Parachinar, which will be inaugurated soon and admissions in various fields of science, IT and arts will be announced from the new academic year.
He said classes initially will be held temporarily in Government College No. 2 Parachinar, but in the previous government of Pakistan People’s Party, acres of land were purchased for the construction of a magnificent building for the university, on which the construction will be started by the end of this year.
Turi said that this university will be the first university in the history of tribal areas for which he is very excited, adding that he was grateful to the then President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who had announced funds to purchase land for Kurram University.
He said Pakistan People’s Party has a special role in the development, health and education of tribal districts and under the patronage of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, all efforts are underway to bring tribal districts into the national mainstream of the country through development in all sectors.
He said Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has offered his full support for the development of the newly merged districts of FATA and emphasized that the rehabilitation of tribal areas is the top priority of his government.
The Minister stressed that very soon universities will be opened in other districts of ex-FATA which will certainly play a key role in the better future of the youth there. He said education has special priority to him to build an educated generation for tomorrow Pakistan.