Peshawar: 08 Sep: A four member delegation of European Union called on Vice Chancellor University of Peshawar Prof. Dr. Azmat Hayat Khan and discussed with him the status of higher education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the challenges faced by it in the prevailing law and order situation. The delegation was headed by Deputy Head of Delegation to Pakistan Mr. Pierre Mayaudon while EU Development Advisor for Governance and Democratisatio Ms.Eva Atanasoya was also present on the occasion.
The Vice Chancellor informed the delegation that security concern is the main issue confronted by their institution and to ensure peaceful environment oncampus, they have invested heavily in boosting internal security for safety of students. He said that due to the present wave of terrorism it has been very difficult for them to organize International Conferences, while the enrollment of foreign students has drastically decreased as well.
He said that University of Peshawar is the nearest Higher Education Institution for the students of FATA and Afghanistan. Most of these students can`t afford their Tuition fee and living expenses which is a great challenge for us. The University is doing what it possibly can to extend financial support to them, but foreign donors and organizations also need to come forth and support them financially so that Higher Education Prosper in KP, FATA and the neighboring Afghanistan.
Dr. Azmat stated that Universities around Pakistan are facing worst financial crisis due to which most of the developmental projects are at stand still and it has become very difficult for us to pay the salary raised by Government in the current financial year for employees. However we have not let the academic activities to slip down and students are provided with the best academic facilities oncampus.
Head of delegation Pierre Mayaudon said that European Union wants to assist University of Peshawar in different areas and their visit is aimed at identifying areas for future cooperations. He said that a high level meeting of the issues confronted to Higher Education Institutions in KP would be arranged by EU in near future to materialize the possible corrective measures in addressing these issues.
The delegation later took a round of University campus including Archeology Museum Hall and The New Academic Block.