Fata University starts classes in four depts

84 students enrolled but none is female

DARRA ADAMKHEL: The classes at four departments including Sociology, Political Science, Mathematics and Management Sciences have begun at the Fata University with 84 students enrolled for the Bachelor of Science degree programme.

The university located in Darra Adamkhel has the capacity to admit 120 students. However, 106 candidates submitted application for admissions while 84 of them were enrolled. None of the students who sought admission in the first-ever university in Fata is female.

The university premises have not yet been provided electricity, telephone connections and drinking water. Still the tribespeople have expressed joy over the opening of the university for students from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

Talking to The News, Vice-Chancellor Dr Syed Tahir Shah said the university had hired a consultant for preparing a master plan and design for the university. “The consultant would design the community centre, different blocks and other projects,” he added.

Dr Tahir Shah said the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) would start work on the project in 2017 after approval of the design by the government. 

He said the Tribal Electric Supply Company would construct a dedicated feeder for the university while Pakistan Telecommunication Company would lay cables to its premises in Darra Adamkhel.

He added the government had approved a tubewell for the university while funds had been released for the projects.The vice-chancellor said that President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain had issued directives for making appointments on merit. “The President made it clear that it was a federal university and competent persons across the country should be recruited for it,” he added.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Tahir Shah explained that one professor, eight regular lecturers and five visiting lecturers had already been appointed while a selection committee had been constituted to recruit the administrative staff.

He pointed out that a selection board had been constituted to recruit senior officials and faculty members.He disclosed that students from Fata and also Hyderabad, Sindh, had got admission in the university. Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Fata University Tasbihullah and Controller of Examination Nasir Shah, have taken charge of their duties.