PESHAWAR: The future of the recently-established University of Swabi is at stake as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is understood to have decided to spend the funds approved for the educational institution on development schemes.
The Awami National Party-led government in the province had established the University of Swabi at the request of local lawmakers to provide higher education to youths, especially girls, on their doorstep.
According to an official in the know, Rs1.454 billion was approved for development of the university’s infrastructure and payment of salary to its employees during five years.
He said in light of the availability of limited financial resources, the government had decided that the university’s expenses would be met from Swabi’s share in tobacco cess and net hydel profit.
The official said the current MPAs from Swabi had, however, forced the government not to release approved funds for the university’s development, so the share in tobacco cess and net hydel profit would be utilised on construction of roads, streets, drains etc.
A senior member of the university’s administration said under the plan, Rs221 million and Rs290 million were to be paid to the university for 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively, but that didn’t happen.
“The only fund the university has received so far is the Rs426 million grant given by the previous government,” he said.
He said denial of funds could lead to the university’s closure.
The member of the administration said the university had enrolled 1,500 students and employed more than 300 people.
He said the employees’ salary and electricity and other utility bills cost the university millions of rupees every month. The member of the administration, however, said the university could approach donors agencies for funds as a last resort.
The university was established in two buildings of the Elementary College for Boys and Elementary College for Girls.
Currently, it’s in initial stage of establishment.
When asked if the Higher Education Commission has provided any funds to the university like other universities in the country, the member of the administration said under the HEC rules, the newly established universities were to be financed by the respective provincial governments for first three years.
He said unavailability of funds had hampered the university’s plans to put up new buildings, establish libraries and laboratories, and carry out other activities.
When contacted, Swabi MPA Shahram Khan Tarakai, who is also the provincial agriculture and information technology minister, said utilisation of net hydel profit and tobacco cess payments on the university was illegal.
He said under the rules, money generated by tobacco cess would be utilised for the development of the area from where it was collected.
The MPA said not all local MPAs, who were part of the previous government, had approved of the use of tobacco cess and net hydel profit payments on the university.
He said the chief minister had agreed to provide funds for the university from other heads as the government didn’t want to close it.