ISLAMABAD- International Karakorum University (IKU), a unique university of the continent approved by the Federal government will be established at Gilgit, headquarters of the Northern Areas (NAs).

Moreover, four Information Technology centers will also be set up in the Northern Areas by the end of this year aimed at providing opportunity to the students of remote areas.

According to details, IKU and two Information Technology (IT) centers, one for boys and one for girls, will be set up at Gilgit and the remaining two IT centers will be set up in Skardu.

Ministry of Science and Technology will provide computers for these IT centers and it would be the part of government’s policy for giving top priority to educational uplift in Northern Areas.

Federal government has approved Rs.440 million for the establishment of the university and site for it has been already identified by the administration of Northern Areas.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs has directed the education department to speed up work on the university project.

This university will provide an opportunity to the students of Northern Areas to get higher education at their doorstep.

Speaker of the Northern Areas Legislative Council, Sahib Khan expressed his gratitude over the approval of Rs.440 million for International Karakorum University (IKU) by ECNEC. He said that the establishment of first ever university in NAs will help increase the quality and higher education in this remote region of the country.

The university will facilitate the students of NAs, who cannot continue their higher education due to financial predicament of their parents, he hoped.

Sahib Khan said that the government is keen to develop NAs and various packages for the uplift of telecommunication.
Source: The Nation
Date:9/5/2001