Delay in execution of projects likely to anger top govt officials

Islamabad
Imminent delay in two politically motivated educational projects on different grounds may cause some kind of discomfort and anger among top government functionaries, who are believed to be anxious for their completion at the earliest, the sources told ‘The News’ here on Friday.
These projects include construction of Women University Multan at the cost of more than Rs1 billion and upgradation of Sindh Madrassatul Islam into a regular university that was founded in 1885 in Karachi by a group of Sindhi Muslims including Khan Bahadur Hassan Ali Effendi, the great grandfather of President Asif Ali Zardari.
The official data showed cash-starved HEC has already invited applications for pre-qualification from eligible firms for construction of buildings and development of infrastructure in the proposed Women University at Multan. But despite its groundbreaking ceremony in the recent past no funds were made available to HEC that is likely to cause a delay in execution of the project. Though the Punjab government has donated 27 acres of land for Women University Multan, but sufficient funds are required to develop facilities for academic activities for 2,000 students along with construction of academic block, central library, administration block, multi-purpose hall, student cafeteria, bachelors’ hostel for faculty members, hostel for 400 students and faculty and staff residences.
With regard to Sindh Madrassatul Islam, the case is somewhat different as strict eligibility criterion may prove to be a stumbling block in award of university status to this institution.
President Asif Ali Zardari himself announced award of university status the madrassa during his visit to Karachi and also promised to provide funds for establishment of its campus in Islamabad. Currently, the institution has four sections including college section, junior and girls secondary section, boys secondary section and technical section in which a total of 83 faculty

members are imparting education to the students. Hassan Ali Effendi was an educationist, who established this institution in which founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah also received his early education.
According to sources the main hurdle in award of university status to Sindh Madrassatul Islam is the criterion approved by the cabinet on February 27, 2002 and later amendments into it on October 04, 2006 that provide a way forward for establishment of a university or degree awarding institute anywhere in the country. They said HEC examined the case of Sindh Madressatul Islam in the light of institutional formalities including land availability, working capital, assets, premises and availability of physical resources, organisation and governance, administrative and academic staffing, student support services, quality assurance mechanism and budget and finance. “At the moment Sindh Madrassatul Islam is not fulfilling the criterion set for award of university status so it is not sure how much time HEC would take to translate the directives of the president into reality,” the sources said. The official data showed in case of a university, the sponsor shall have to make available at least 10 acres (3 acres in city and 7 acres on city fringes) and in case of an institute at least 3-1/3 acres of land, depending on the location having potential for further development.
HEC Executive Director Dr. Sohail Naqvi told ‘The News’ that groundbreaking ceremony of Women University Multan has been held, but no funds are available to continue construction work.
“We will try to complete construction work on Women University Multan within specified timeframe, but availability of funds is a must to do so,” he said.
To a question, he said the decision has been taken to award university status to Sindh Madrassatul Islam, but “we will follow all rules and procedures approved by the cabinet in 2002 that put certain conditions for this purpose.”
He said Sindh Madrassatul Islam has to fulfil all requirements after which HEC would be able to give it the status of the university as announced by the president.