* Projects of Waste Management and Education and Employment for Disabled Girls alongside Construction of Main Campus Awaiting Approval
MAHTAB BASHIR
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD
Vice Chancellor, Kohsar University Murree (KUM), Prof. Dr. Syed Habib Ali Bokhari has emphasized his commitment to improving the lives of the local community through education, social welfare, and economic development. He acknowledges that despite his best efforts, the university is confronted with various challenges due to financial limitations and scarce resources. KUM is unique in the sense that it has not received any external funding for development projects since its establishment in 2020. Even with its recurring budget, the university struggles to meet its requirements, he stated.
In an exclusive conversation with this scribe, the VC KUM revealed that a budget of Rs. 1471 million has been allocated for the construction of a state-of-the-art main campus for the university. However, this budget proposal is still pending approval. Also, a separate budget proposal of Rs. 348 million for initiatives related to the GIG economy (such as computer courses and freelancing) and waste management has also been submitted for approval, but is also awaiting confirmation. Dr. Bokhari explained that certain academic programs had to be put on hold due to restrictions on faculty hiring. However, once these restrictions were lifted, the programs were reinstated, he clarified.
According to Dr. Bokhari, during the initial setup of KUM, a total of 252 kanals of land were designated for the university. This included Punjab House, Murree Brewery, and other locations. However, currently only 42 kanals of land have been utilized for infrastructure development. Unfortunately, the university lacks a main campus and a dedicated academic block. The VC also mentioned that certain projects have been successfully completed with financial assistance from the US mission.
Dr. Syed Habib Ali Bokhari announced that in celebration of World Environment Day (on June 5), KUM will be implementing first-ever olive plantation project in Murree's history. Moreover, an international conference will be held at the university starting from June 11th to establish a national tourism policy. Countries such as China, Nepal, Germany, and others from both domestic and foreign origins will be participating. Dr. Bokhari mentioned that experts will be attending, and there are plans to admit 8 students from Palestine in the upcoming semester. This marks an exciting development in the university's future events.
According to the VC, the university is dedicated to three main objectives: enhancing its capabilities to achieve world-class standards, providing quality education to local residents, and contributing to community development while also boosting tourism. Located in the scenic area of Murree, there is great potential for tourism growth due to the abundance of jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries, he said.
Upon assuming the role of Vice Chancellor in March 2021, Dr. Bokhari said he faced numerous challenges such as a shortage of faculty, lapsed budgets, and inadequate infrastructure. However, through swift financial management, he was able to save Rs. 300 million while addressing these issues. Currently, KUM boasts a student population of over 1400, with female students comprising 70% of the total enrolment. Dr. Bukhari emphasized that KUM stands out as the only university in the country where the arts department charges a nominal fee of Rs. 5000 per semester, showcasing the university's commitment to providing affordable education.
He said that Rs. 300 million PC-1 has been prepared for the waste management project at Salgran in Murree. Although the project is still pending approval, the aim is to create employment opportunities and offer training to locals on how to repurpose waste into useful products such as chicken feed. Also, efforts are being made to support employment for disabled girls, with plans to reserve a space for them at the university. These girls will have the opportunity to operate a restaurant as part of this initiative.
VC KUM, Prof. Dr. Bokhari said, there are a total of 1400 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled across the university's four campuses, with education being offered in 25 different areas of study. Among the 55 faculty members at the university, 40 hold Ph.Ds from prestigious global institutions, with an additional six foreign faculty members teaching online courses from top educational establishments worldwide. He mentioned that significant partnerships and agreements with countries such as China and Germany, as well as various organizations, have been established since he assumed the role of vice chancellor.
0333 53 63 248
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD
Vice Chancellor, Kohsar University Murree (KUM), Prof. Dr. Syed Habib Ali Bokhari has emphasized his commitment to improving the lives of the local community through education, social welfare, and economic development. He acknowledges that despite his best efforts, the university is confronted with various challenges due to financial limitations and scarce resources. KUM is unique in the sense that it has not received any external funding for development projects since its establishment in 2020. Even with its recurring budget, the university struggles to meet its requirements, he stated.
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| Prof. Dr. Syed Habib Ali Bokhari, VC KUM |
According to Dr. Bokhari, during the initial setup of KUM, a total of 252 kanals of land were designated for the university. This included Punjab House, Murree Brewery, and other locations. However, currently only 42 kanals of land have been utilized for infrastructure development. Unfortunately, the university lacks a main campus and a dedicated academic block. The VC also mentioned that certain projects have been successfully completed with financial assistance from the US mission.
Recently, the KUM has made a significant achievement by creating a mobile application designed to map areas at high risk of landslides in Murree and Kotli Sattian. This innovative app offers the local population, including tourists, a safer alternative route in case the main roads are blocked due to snowfall or other disasters. The mastermind behind this app is Asma Bibi, a lecturer in the IT department at KUM. One of the key features of this app is its offline usability. The system is equipped with a server-side component that acts as a control room for prompt response in emergency situations. By sending a distress message, tourists can quickly alert the control room about their exact location, along with the date and time. The control room can then devise the shortest and fastest route for timely assistance.
Dr. Syed Habib Ali Bokhari announced that in celebration of World Environment Day (on June 5), KUM will be implementing first-ever olive plantation project in Murree's history. Moreover, an international conference will be held at the university starting from June 11th to establish a national tourism policy. Countries such as China, Nepal, Germany, and others from both domestic and foreign origins will be participating. Dr. Bokhari mentioned that experts will be attending, and there are plans to admit 8 students from Palestine in the upcoming semester. This marks an exciting development in the university's future events.
According to the VC, the university is dedicated to three main objectives: enhancing its capabilities to achieve world-class standards, providing quality education to local residents, and contributing to community development while also boosting tourism. Located in the scenic area of Murree, there is great potential for tourism growth due to the abundance of jobs in the hospitality and tourism industries, he said.
Upon assuming the role of Vice Chancellor in March 2021, Dr. Bokhari said he faced numerous challenges such as a shortage of faculty, lapsed budgets, and inadequate infrastructure. However, through swift financial management, he was able to save Rs. 300 million while addressing these issues. Currently, KUM boasts a student population of over 1400, with female students comprising 70% of the total enrolment. Dr. Bukhari emphasized that KUM stands out as the only university in the country where the arts department charges a nominal fee of Rs. 5000 per semester, showcasing the university's commitment to providing affordable education.
He said that Rs. 300 million PC-1 has been prepared for the waste management project at Salgran in Murree. Although the project is still pending approval, the aim is to create employment opportunities and offer training to locals on how to repurpose waste into useful products such as chicken feed. Also, efforts are being made to support employment for disabled girls, with plans to reserve a space for them at the university. These girls will have the opportunity to operate a restaurant as part of this initiative.
VC KUM, Prof. Dr. Bokhari said, there are a total of 1400 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled across the university's four campuses, with education being offered in 25 different areas of study. Among the 55 faculty members at the university, 40 hold Ph.Ds from prestigious global institutions, with an additional six foreign faculty members teaching online courses from top educational establishments worldwide. He mentioned that significant partnerships and agreements with countries such as China and Germany, as well as various organizations, have been established since he assumed the role of vice chancellor.
The writer is a journalist associated with Dunya News and a student of M.Phil, at Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
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