Chitral polytechnic institute remains incomplete

CHITRAL: Establishment of polytechnic institute in the district remains a dream for another year as the building is unlikely to be completed by June due to lack of funds, sources in the works and services department told this correspondent.

They said that the scheme was short of Rs6 million for which the finance department had been approached which was yet to be entertained. The estimated cost of the building was Rs78.530 million and work on it had started three years ago. Its stipulated time of completion was June 2008 but it was delayed by one year due to the slow pace of work.

The people of Chitral had attached importance to the establishment of the polytechnic institute as there was no institution for technical education in the district.

A resident said that Chitral was the only district in the province having no polytechnic institute. After passing matriculation examination, the students had to go to other neighbouring districts to seek admission in classes of associate engineering but very few seats were made available to them.

He said that classes were to be commenced in the polytechnic institute right from the current year but it could not be possible due to negligence of the works and services department.

Sources in the finance department said that due to slow progress in the construction work, some of its funds were diverted to another district which caused shortage of funds.

The residents have demanded of the government to release funds to ensure completion of the work before June so that classes could be started during the current academic year.--Zahiruddin