Senate penal expresses reservations over delay

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Tuesday expressed serious reservations over delay in establishment of Fata University in Kohat.

The committee met with Abdul Nabbi Bangash in the chair here and discussed the establishment of Fata University where all parliamentarians from Fata and tribal areas participated.

State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Baleegh-ur-Rehman said the government focuses on increasing literacy rate in the country, as promotion of education is the only solution to overcome problems and backwardness of the Fata and the tribal areas. He assured the committee the government would take action whatever recommendations from houses come about the establishment of Fata University.

The Chairman of the committee said that had governments spent money on welfare, education and training of Fata people, the country would have not been required to spend huge resources on law and order situation. Despite lapse of 67 years, not a single university has been set up in Fata. He said 266 kanal of land were purchased for Fata University in Dara Adamkhel on which parliamentarians and standing committee had reservations.

Member parliament Qaiser Jamal said that questions raised pertaining to security situation in Kohat was incorrect, adding that problems being created to stop establishment of Fata university. He said that land has been purchased for the University and work on the university should be started without wasting further time. Member Parliament Sajid Hussain Turi said that work on IT and Medical College is already being started in the area and there is no security issue, therefore work should also be started on the university.

Senator Saleh Shah said that appointment in the university should be made from all the areas on equal basis, and it should be constructed near to the Kohat tunnel, so as to benefit maximum people. Chairman of the committee said that view points of all the parliamentarians have been taken and final decision would be made soon in this regard.