Under the directives of President General Pervez Musharraf, the federal government has approved the project of setting up of an ultra modern Engineering University in Sialkot, said Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President, Qaiser S Shabbir.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, the SCCI chief said that the proposed engineering university would be developed over 200 acres of land on Sialkot-Eminabad road and the Punjab government had issued notification of the allocation of land for the project.
The role of Swedish government would be instrumental in establishment of the proposed university and collaboration in providing the necessary assistance in formulation of faculties.
Qaiser said the establishment of engineering university would be a gift of the government for the future generations of this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industries.
He said that the regular functioning of the university would not only cater the needs of business community but also provide the opportunities to the students for acquiring the higher education at local level.
Qaiser Shabbir said the research and development had become more important in present era and the proposed university would be supportive in research and development to the local industries like surgical instrument, sports goods and leather industry for resolving their problems pertaining to innovation of products.
At present the local business community engaged with surgical instruments manufacturing, sports goods and leather industries was facing problem due to the lack of the research and development facilities at local level, he said.
The SCCI President said that surgical industry and sports goods industries of Sialkot had a lot of potential and both the sectors could earn seven billion dollars and 10 billion dollars respectively.
The regular functioning of engineering university would be supportive in brining big boost in exports of Sialkot and the business community would be able to compete international market more easily, Qaiser added.
He said the work on this mega project would be carried out soon and the university campus would be completed in stipulated period of two year.
On this occasion the SCCI President on behalf of the business community and people of Sialkot thanked President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Governor Punjab Khalid Maqbool, Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi and Dr Atta-ur-Rehman for granting the approval of the engineering university.