MIRPUR (AJK): AJK President Sardar Masood Khan has said that public sector universities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) would be brought on par with the best universities in Pakistan by upgrading all academic and administrative facilities, and ensuring that the highest standards of merit are upheld.
The AJK president was talking to Prof Dr Dil Nawaz Gardezi, Vice Chancellor, University of Kotli, who called on him at Jammu Kashmir House on Saturday.
The vice chancellor gave a comprehensive briefing to the president - who is also the Chancellor of AJK Public Sector Universities - on various initiatives at the university relating to academics and the construction of students hostel, academic and administration blocks.
Dr Gardezi apprised the president that the construction of girls hostel at the university initiated under a Higher Education Commission sponsored project for strengthening infrastructures at universities in underdeveloped areas was underway and would be completed in the first half of August 2018. He said the girls hostel would accommodate around 250 students.
He said Rs 1.48 billion had been sanctioned for the purpose and the initial stages of hiring a consultant had been completed and the planning and designing phase of the project was now smoothly underway.
The VC informed the president that from September this year, Architecture and Town Planning degree courses would be introduced, which would be a first for public sector universities in AJK. Furthermore, classes of Islamic Studies, Urdu, and Islamic Finance and Banking degrees would also be introduced.
Stressing the importance of encouraging entrepreneurship among the graduating students, the president appreciated the fact that a Business Incubation Centre had been established at the university where both students and budding entrepreneurs would be provided ample opportunities to explore their full potential.
President Masood Khan expressed his satisfaction over the progress on various projects and initiatives.
He commended the VC and the University management for completing the construction of the girls hostel well before the scheduled time and also for shifting offices of the University's Secretariat within the campus to the newly inaugurated Administration Block.
He said that all available resources will be brought in to help improve existing and new facilities at our universities. He added that by upholding merit, introducing new and revolutionary disciplines, and encouraging research and innovation we will be able to transform our universities into centres of excellence and competitive both nationally and regionally.
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