HEC to strengthen engineering university
By Bushra Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has planned to strengthen Satellite Campuses of NWFP University of Engineering & Technology at Mardan, Bannu and Abbottad.
The project aims at strengthening teaching faculty by providing opportunities of foreign training to at least 22 scholars in Mardan, Bannu & Abbottabad campuses to carry out Ph.D level studies in top foreign universities for the purpose a project amounting about Rs. 460 million submitted by HEC has been approved by the Planning Commission in CDWP meeting.
The project aims at enhancing the capacity of the campuses to increase the enrolment of engineering students in next five years from the existing 400 to 800 plus in the disciplines of Telecommunication Engineering, Computer Software Engineering, Civil Engineering, Public Health Engineering, Soil Mechanic and Highway Engineering. Through the project existing 04 laboratories of Mardan campus, 04 labs of Bannu Campus and 05 labs of Abbottabad campus would be upgraded and strengthened. In addition 97589 Sft covered area in Mardan Campus, 18500 Sft at Bannu Campus and 44410 Sft at Abbottabad campus for the students and staff would also be constructed.
It is pertinent to mention here that at Mardan campus electrical circuit lab, networking and telecommunication lab, control lab would be established through the project. As well as campus library, academic block, boys hostel for 200 students and girls hostel for 5o students would be constructed. At Bannu campus besides construction of boys hostel for 100 students hydraulic lab, public health and engineering lab, concrete lab, surveying lab and a material testing lab would also be established. At Abbottabad campus electronics lab, mechanics lab, digital communication lab and digital logic lab would be established and a boys hostel for 200 students would be constructed. Engineers produced through this project are expected to play a pivotal role in Pakistan's socio-economic development.