ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will soon upgrade its academic facilities in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA) by opening up its regional-office at Wana.
This was announced by the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui while addressing a students’ gathering on the occasion of the national expo that was arranged here by the university to showcase research-based projects for their commercialization.
The Wana’s office in South Waziristan agency will cater the educational needs of the surrounding areas, including Dera Ismail Khan and Tank district. Wana consists of around six and half lac population and the AIOU’s educational facilities will help the local people to come in main stream of the national development.
According to Director Regional Services Dr Arif Saleem Arif, the AIOU was already running study and examination centres at Wana and now with the availability of a regular office, the students will be able to get solved their routine problems on fast-track bases.
The Vice Chancellor also announced that the AIOU will provide free education to the people of FATA at Matric level. The same facility will be available to the people of Balochistan.
This is the part of the University’s new initiatives providing affordable educational facilities to the marginalized regions of the country. It was already providing free education to the deprived sections of the people, including prisoners, disabled, drop-out girls and transgender group.
The university also offer nine scholarships schemes and special fee-waiver to facilitate the deserving students in carrying out their future education.