By Hifsa Raja

ISLAMABAD, July 22: The sixth meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate has discussed funding for a new campus of the COMSATS University in Balochistan. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch chaired the meeting held at the COMSATS University, Islamabad (CUI).

Secretary for Science and Technology Ghulam Muhammad Memon, Rector of the CUI Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tabbasum Afzal, Director General of the Faculty Affairs of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Muhammad Raza Chohan, Treasurer of the CUI Muhammad Azam, and other top officials of the Ministry of Science and Technology were in attendance.

Talking to WealthPK, PRO Ministry of Science and Technology Ms. Sidrah said COMSATS Rector and Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch discussed the financial concerns for the new COMSATS campus and now they will work with the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives to secure further financing. 

She said the meeting recommended that funding for the new campus be coordinated with the planning ministry. The minister emphasized the need for undertaking new technology-related endeavours in Balochistan and asked the COMSATS to also open new campuses in Sukkur and Quetta during the current financial year.

The meeting discussed the financial difficulties facing the construction of new campuses in Sukkur and Quetta. The minister also requested the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) to establish new technology departments in Balochistan, Sidrah added.

Addressing the meeting, Agha Hassan Baloch emphasised the need for new campuses and directed the management of the CUI to strengthen collaboration with the relevant departments in order to establish the university campuses in Sukkur and Quetta during this current fiscal year.

Appointment of deans for the faculties of Business Administration and Science was also discussed in the meeting. The subcommittee also reached consensus on a proposal for affiliation of educational institutions with the CUI in order to enhance the educational standard of the nation as well as the financial situation of the university. After an extensive discussion on the agenda item of appointment of registrar COMSATS University, the subcommittee directed that the process should be started over from the beginning.

During the 5th meeting of the subcommittee, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Tabbasum Afzal provided an update on the status of implementation of decisions made during the meeting.The minister lauded the university's efforts for promoting education across the country and voiced optimism that it will continue to raise the bar for educational excellence while simultaneously helping the government in promoting science and technology across the country.

The government has previously announced to establish new campuses of the Virtual University of Pakistan (VU) in four cities of Balochistan to promote science and technology. For this purpose, a contract was inked between the VU and the Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology. Rector Naeem Tariq and Vice Chancellor of Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology Dr Ahsultanullah Khan Kakar signed the agreement.

Credits: INP-WealthPk