Gilgit (Web Desk): The federal government has formally approved setting up of the sub campus of Karakoram International University in Diamer district. Higher Education Commission (HEC) has issued the notification of establishing sub campuses in Hunza and Diamer districts under the first phase of establishing physical and academic infrastructure of sub-campuses of different universities in 16 districts across the country.
The spokesman of KIU has informed the media that the notification was issued by the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on special request of the Chief Minister and Governor Gilgit Baltistan. The sub campuses in Hunza and Chilas will be made operational together.
Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan has directed that the Karakoram International University to start the sub campuses in May 2017 and take measures to start classes in both sub campuses. In a letter to Vice Chancellor Mohammad Asif Khan, Governor has said that Diamer is the gateway to Gilgit-Baltistan. The federal and provincial governments are taking steps to accelerate the development process and specially higher education in Diamer district so the youth of the underserved district can take maximum advantages. The Governor has said that he will appeal to Prime Minister for a special education package for Diamer. He said the Higher Education Commission has approved the opening of 13 new campuses of universities across the country, including Hunza and the Diamer sub campuses in Gilgit-Baltistan and the campus in district Ghizier is in pipeline. He said that Karakoram International University has already announced the admission schedule for Hunza campus and steps should be taken to start classes in Diamer sub campus as well.
It is here to mention that the lawmakers from Diamer district had reportedly blamed Governor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan for the delay in establishing university sub campus in Diamer district. The Minister for Agriculture Haji Janbaz, Minister for Women Development and Youth Affairs Sobia Muqaddam, Minister for Forests Imran Wakil, Opposition Leader Shah Baig and Haider Khan, in a media report, had also accused the governor of insulting the people of Diamer by referring them to taliban-minded. This media report had sparked unrest and youth and activists on social media were targeting the governor for his alleged remarks.
