Meeting held to generate funds for Afghan Varsity

Frontier Post

PESHAWAR (APP) - A high level meeting with commissioner Afghan Refugees Gulzar Khan in the chair was held here Thursday to explore ways and means for generating funds for Afghan university. The meeting was attended among others by additional secretary finance SAFRON Sahibzada Khalid, representative of US Consulate Peshawar Roger Kenna, chief of UNHCR Islamabad Utkan, and representatives of 29 NGOs. Commissioner Afghan refugees threw light on the current status of the Afghan university and explained the contemporary history of the university. He said, the NWFP government in August 1998 closed five Afghan universities imparting education in medicines, engineering, agriculture, law and Islamic studies with the justifications that these institutions were established without the approval of the University Grants Commission. Moreover, he said, these universities were not even granted recognition by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and Pakistan Engineering Council. There was another complaint against these closed universities that Pakistani students were also being given admissions in various faculties. Gulzar Khan further added that during 1999, the then chief minister NWFP approved a summary and subsequently one integrated Afghan university was established. It was proposed on the gender issue that medical college would have two campuses one each for male and female. He said that Afghan commisionerate Peshawar had so far donated Rs.2.4 million for the rent of the building.

In reply to a query, commissioner Afghan refugees said, the Afghan university would be shifted to Afghanistan when Afghans establish their own resources. Vice chancellor Afghan University Farzand Ali Durrani said that Afghans were determined to rebuild their country. He said, that for the last 10 months, the teachers of Afghan university were imparting education to their students without getting any salaries. He said, "we immediately require financial assistance for payment of rent amounting to rupees 24 (point 24) million for the male campus, funds for hiring female campus besides payment of arrears on account of staff salaries". Chief of UNHCR Islamabad Utkan appreciated the efforts of Afghan Commissioner and assured to extend all possible help. Representative of US Consulate Peshawar Rogger Kenna said that US government was making efforts to do something for Afghan refugees particularly in the field of education. He assured all out cooperation and assistance in this regard.