MIRPUR (AJK) – AJK President Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan has said that AJK University is being developed at a fast pace and expressed his hope that it will be transpired into a leading University of South Asia by taking practical steps to attain the set goals.

Addressing 37th Syndicate meeting of the state-run Azad Jammu & Kashmir University held on Friday at City Campus Muzaffarabad, the AJK President who is also Chancellor of the varsity, appreciated the efforts of the Vice Chancellor for maintaining the education standard of the University particularly after earthquake 2005. He also lauded the efforts of the former president Raja Zulqarnain Khan and Pro Dr Manzoor Hussain Khan for the uplift of the university.

Yaqoob also applauded the unparalleled contributions of VC Dr Habibur Rehman for the development of the university.

Speaking on the occasion, VC Dr Habibur Rehman said that a piece of land measuring 1,000 kanal had been acquired for the construction of King Abdullah Campus at Chatter Klass, Muzaffarabad which would cost Rs5.561 billion. He also informed that he had also visited the KSA to settle the issues in this regard and brought an additional grant of Rs1.561 billion required to build the campus as per original plan.

Referring to the up-gradation of the faculty of Agriculture, he said, “The Rawalakot University Ordinance and Feasibility Report consisting of 475 pages have been prepared and submitted to the HEC and NOC is likely to be issued soon”. He said, “Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, institutes – Education, Institute of Languages, Department of Sociology and Rural Development, Department of Public Health and Department of Business Administration was established at Muzaffarabad.”

Hazara University Vice Chancellor Dr Syed Sakhawat Shah, Public Service Commission Chairman Sardar Muhammad Latif Khan, former Ambassador Arif Kamal, Dr Haris Rashid of the University of the Punjab, Dr Shabiul Hassan Zaidi of the UET Lahore, Dr Muhammad Nisar Khan of the University of Faisalabad, Dr Zulifaqar Ahmed of the Quaid-i-Azam University and Dr Saima Shah Jahan, Secretary Education (Colleges), attended the meeting.