KP Cabinet okays three new varsities

[Shahzaz ud din]

KP Cabinet okays three new varsities
The Frontier Post
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Peshawar
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F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet Thursday approved setting up of three new public sector universities each in Lakki Marwat, DI Khan and Mardan with a view to promote higher education at district level.

The cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak here, approved University of Lakki Marwat, DI Khan Agriculture University and Mardan University of Engineering and Technology. It was informed on the occasion that 19 public sector varsities are already operation in the province.

It was told that PTI government set up nine varsities in the province and now there are a total 28 universities across the province providing higher education facilities to students at their doorstep.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Advisor to Chief Minister Mushtaq Ghani said that the KP Cabinet approved KP universities amendment ordinance 2017.

The cabinet also approved KP Judicial Academy Amendment bill 2017, KP Rural Area Drinking Water Supply Scheme amendment bill 2017 and KP Professional Building Management and Control Act 2017 besides giving nod to appointment of Female Dean of KP Girls Medical College and appointment of members Board of Governors for Institute of Cardiology.

The meeting thoroughly deliberated on agriculture sector and constituted a deferred a request of agriculture department to ban construction on agricultural land. The cabinet formed a committee to review the pros and cons of the matter.

Meanwhile, the CM emphasized upon promotion of agriculture sector and said that effective measures are required to meet the agricultural demand of the province.

He directed the department concerned to review the incentives that are required in agriculture sector for employment generation and promotion of agriculture and take long, medium and short term steps in this regard.

The CM said that with the construction of Chashma Right Bank Canal, KP would be self sufficient in wheat and other commodities.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Agriculture on a an argument of Minister for Local Government, said that revolutionary measures are being taken in Olive production, adding that 0.5 million plants of Olive have been plants across KP.

The Chief Minister stressed upon Forest Department to cooperation with Agriculture department in production of Olive and plant as much sapling as to make KP self sufficient.

Meanwhile cabinet members recommended discouraging housing societies on agriculture land.

The CM appreciated the recommendation and ordered a comprehensive planning to reclaim agricultural lands, access to farmers and for their trainings.

The cabinet approved names for Additional Advocate General for Supreme Court, KP Sugarcane and Sugar beet development cess rules 2015 and names of BoG of Gomal Medical College Dera Ismail Khan.

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[Shahzaz ud din]

HEC, China to set up joint research centre on earth sciences
By News Desk
Published: October 28, 2017
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Commission’s chairman calls for setting up task force to finalise matters. PHOTO: FILE

The Higher Education Commission has promised all-out support for China in setting up a joint research centre in Pakistan on earth sciences while suggesting forming a task force on either side for the purpose.

This was discussed at a consultative meeting between officials from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Peshawar University and various other universities joined the meeting. The meeting was also attended by China Science and Technology Division Vice Director Dr Yonng Gong GE, Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment Professor Su Lijun, and other stakeholders.

UAF to get new research centre under CPEC

During the briefing, participants discussed the objectives, cooperation mechanism, and preliminary roadmap of setting up the centre, which is being built in collaboration with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed assured the Chinese delegation that the government of Pakistan and HEC will extend their all-out cooperation to their Chinese partners in setting up the centre.

He stressed the need for developing a task force for mutual coordination and to finalise viability of the centre. He added that a similar task force needs to be set up on the Chinese side as well.

Dr Ahmed added that the various centres of excellence set up in Pakistan can also be included in this endeavour to draw from their experience while reiterating that the centre will be an autonomous entity.

With the centre to be set up at a local university, the HEC chairman told the Chinese counterparts that the research centre will be established in Islamabad.

HEC Executive Director Dr Arshad Ali emphasised the need for identifying the domains of work between the two sides.

He added that details of development cost, infrastructural arrangements, laboratory equipment and infrastructure, and other components of the centre will be shared through the formal document which will be finalised in subsequent meetings.

The China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre in Earth Sciences will research risk analysis and reduction of natural hazards ensuring the safety of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) construction.

It will also ensure orderly utilisation of ecological and environmental resources and will promote regional sustainable development to benefit the people along the CPEC. For this, the centre will research issues pertaining to earth sciences in the areas adjoining the Himalaya, the Hindu Kush, and the Karakorum.

HEC plans to induct 38,000 PhD teachers into varsities

It will provide support for CPEC by developing mitigation principles and technologies on natural hazards, in addition to improving sustainable development of the economy, society and environment.

Deliberating on the role of the centre, officials said that it would deal with key scientific issues such as gathering environmental data, mining under complex topography, climate change, water environment, rational utilisation of water resources, tectonic movement and its effects on resources and hazards.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28th, 2017.


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