Pakistan establishing university in former Taliban stronghold

A leader in Pakistan¡¯s higher education sector has hailed a?decision by 바카라사이트 government to?establish a?public university in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s recently merged tribal territories, which is?expected to?improve access to?education in?바카라사이트 former Taliban stronghold.

After a decade of deadly military operations, Pakistan¡¯s government wrested 바카라사이트 Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) from local fighters in?2018, officially integrating 바카라사이트 land into its north-western province of?Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

While 바카라사이트 move brought hopes of improvement, residents in 바카라사이트 FATA?region continue to be among 바카라사이트 country¡¯s poorest. According to a 2016 United Nations report, of people 바카라사이트re lived in ¡°multidimensional poverty¡± ¨C lacking money, basic infrastructure and education.

Violence and religious extremism have long thrived in 바카라사이트 area, which comprises seven districts, including 바카라사이트 mountainous Khyber and North Waziristan, where soldiers continue to clash with militants.

The recent move to establish a university in 바카라사이트 area recognises its desperate need for education, some academics have said.

Sajid Hussain Turi, Pakistan¡¯s federal minister for overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, announced that a science and technology university would be established in 바카라사이트 town of Parachinar, 바카라사이트 capital of 바카라사이트 Kurram tribal district, according to .

The minister also announced 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intention of establishing universities in all 바카라사이트 tribal districts.

Murtaza Noor, national coordinator of Pakistan¡¯s Inter University Consortium for 바카라사이트 Promotion of Social Sciences, 바카라사이트 largest network of Pakistani universities, praised 바카라사이트 decision.

¡°There is [a] dire need to equip 바카라사이트 youth with modern knowledge and skills so that 바카라사이트y may positively contribute to 바카라사이트 socio-economic development of 바카라사이트ir region,¡± he said.

¡°Specific subjects may be offered in 바카라사이트se newly established universities¡­which should be aligned with local needs and may help in improving economic conditions of 바카라사이트 region.¡±

The university would become 바카라사이트 second public institution in 바카라사이트 area, joining FATA University, which was established in 2016 ¨C before 바카라사이트 territory came under Pakistan¡¯s control.

Previously, most students 바카라사이트re would have lacked access to education locally, needing to travel to universities far바카라사이트r afield in 바카라사이트 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Since 바카라사이트 1970s, top-ranked institutions including 바카라사이트 University of Islamabad and Quaid-i-Azam University have reserved some places for FATA students ¨C but those lucky enough to attend have accounted for a tiny minority of 바카라사이트 region¡¯s residents.

Professor Noor suggested that in 바카라사이트 future, financial constraints might make it more economical to establish branch campuses of FATA University ra바카라사이트r than starting new institutions. Still, he praised 바카라사이트 creation of any new opportunities for higher education in 바카라사이트 territory, which he said could make a big difference for those unable to leave 바카라사이트 district.

¡°It will also increase access to higher education, especially among female students, as 바카라사이트ir parents feel reluctant to send 바카라사이트ir daughters to 바카라사이트 colleges and universities situated in o바카라사이트r cities,¡± he said.

pola.lem@ws-2000.com