CM announces Rs1b for new block at GIK Institute

SWABI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that the provincial government will provide Rs1 billion for the construction of a new academic block at Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology.

Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day “Open House and Career Fair” here on Thursday, he said that he would also announce construction of a new hostel next year. About 50 national and multinational companies participated in the fair in which the chief minister inspected the final-year projects of the students.

He also inaugurated the completion of hostel-II, which cost Rs277.8 million provided by the provincial government.Speaking on the occasion, Pervez Khattak said: “If we want to progress, we should nurture research culture. Economic prosperity and progress is not possible without indigenous research and breakthroughs in science and technology.”

Such exhibitions are the outcome of continuous learning and years of hard work, he said, adding that the final-year students have proved that they were second to none.Engineer Shamsul Mulk, president of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology (SOPREST), said the students were trained in GIK Institute to face emerging challenges and play their due role in the development of the country.

Rector GIK Institute Jehangir Bashar lauded the KP government’s continuous support to the institute in recent years, particularly by provincial higher education, planning and IT departments.

“The boys’ hostel, inaugurated today, is a prime example. We do hope that this support will continue in the future as well,” he said.He said the GIK Institute currently has facilities for about 1800 students. “We, therefore, must add to the infrastructure so that more students can benefit from the quality education that the institute offers,” he added. Prof Dr Javed A Chattha, pro-rector (academic), said that the Open House and Career Fair was an integral part of the Institute’s educational calendar.