PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattal< on Friday urged vice chancellors and teachers of local universities to provide students with the latest knowledge to help them meet market needs.

This, he said, will also make universities cradle of research and innovations in all spheres of life.

He was speaking to University of Swabi Vice Chancellor Dr Noor Jehan during a meeting in his of fice at the CM Secretariat here.Speaker of the provincial assembly Asad Qiasar, senior minister Shahram Khan Tarakai, sports minister Amjad Afridi, adviser to the chief minister on planning and development Mian Khaleequr Rehman, MPA Mehmood Jan, Chief Minister`s Complaint Cell chairman Al-Hajj Dilroz Khan and other relevant officials were also presenton the occasion.

The vice chancellor submitted two years annual performance report highlighting the university`s achievements and problems to the chief minister.

According to a handout issued here, the chief minister told her that the provincial government would never compromise quality and needs of higher education and the steps taken by the government provided ample proof of its sincerity for the purpose.

He said funds for the construc-tion of new building of University of Swabi after purchase of 1,500 kanals of land alongside the Motorway at the cost of Rs300 million would be provided.

Khattak said besides ADP, other resources would also be used for the purpose.

He accepted the invitation to attend the new university building`s groundbreaking ceremony and said all leaders of the coalition government and ministers would participate in it.

The chief minister said the government was giving top priority and special attention to the promotion of higher education under educational emergency in the province.

He said during the current year, the government had allocated Rs4 billion funds for the creation of an endowment fund for higher educational institutions and academic achievements of students, Rs3.48billion for establishment of colleges chartered as degree awarding institution, Rs1.99 billion for the financing and strengthening and establishment of higher education institutions, Rs1.2 billion for improving the quality of higher education, Rs3.97 billion for the strengthening of faculties of colleges and universities, Rs143 million for strengthening of academic and financial monitoring and Rs213.22 million for strengthening four years bachelor`s degree programme.

Khattak said the current was the era of competition in all sectors, including education, while the country had to compete with neighbours and international community in the race of development.

He said information technology and health tourism were being promoted in India that could also be replicated well in the country as there was no shortage of talents.`We could leave other countries behind in every sector by working hard,` he said.

The chief minister said the task was not that of the government only as universities had to focus full attention on it.

He said the university students should be taught and trained in such a way that they could stand on their own two feet.

Khattak said the government would take proper steps for gas supply to the university, installation of new powerful electricity feeder and construction of approach and service road.

Also in the day, delegations of MPAs and elders from various parts of the province called on the chief minister and apprised him of the problems and demands of their respective areas.

Khattak assured visitors of early resolution of their problems.