PESHAWAR, March 9: In order to strengthen the higher education sector and to facilitate the students as well as staff of government colleges of the Newly Merged Districts, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has started to provide transport facility to these colleges. Initially, 45 Hiace vehicles have been provided to the colleges of merged areas whereas in the next phase, buses would also be provided. This project aimed at extending transport facility to the government colleges worth cost Rs. 1.18 billion cumulatively and benefit over 23000 students of merged areas. A ceremony to this effect was held here on Wednesday with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan as the chief guest. The chief minister formally handed over keys of new Hiace vehicles to the principals of these 45 colleges including 24 boys colleges, 15 girls and 6 commerce colleges. Under the project, 10 more Hiace vehicles and buses would also be provided to the newly established colleges of the merged districts.
Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister has termed the strengthening of higher education sector as an integral part of the priorities of his government and said that the government has focused to provide higher education facilities to the youth of merged areas on their door steps and for this purpose various projects worth Rs. 17 Billion have been reflected in the annual development program for NMDs. These projects include establishment of 12 new colleges, rehabilitation and provision of missing facilities to the existing colleges, commencement of BS Program, provision of scholarships to the students, solarization of colleges, recruitment of teaching staff, provision of transport facility and other important projects. He said that the all projects on completion will prove to be a milestone in providing better education facility at the door steps of the youth of merged areas. While announcing the establishment of a university in Bajaur, the chief minister said that medical colleges and universities would be established at suitable sites in merged districts adding that work on education city in south Waziristan was already in progress. He said that 10 new colleges would be operationalized in merged areas from the next academic year.
While terming the merger of erstwhile FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a milestone achievement of his government, Mahmood Khan said that it was undoubtedly a big challenge but the provincial government with the cooperation of all the stakeholders has completed this process in the short span of three and half years. He said that now the erstwhile tribal areas have become the part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the government was going all out for the rapid development of merged areas. He said that incumbent government stood with the tribal districts and will take every possible step to address the deprivations of the people of merged areas.
Addressing the ceremony, provincial minister Kamran Bangash highlighted the steps taken by the provincial government to boost the higher education sector in merged areas. Special Assistant to Chief Minister barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Secretary Higher Education Muhammad Daud Khan and other concerned high ups attended the ceremony.-PR
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