ISLAMABAD, April 13: A consortium of some of the best French universities will collaborate with Pakistan to set up a world class engineering university in Karachi.

Details in this regard were finalised during the recent visit of the Higher Education Commission chairman, Prof Dr Attaur Rahman, to France where he held a meeting with Marc Faculty, Director-General of International Relations and Cooperation, Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research, Government of France.

Dr Rehman also met with Mr Grassing, Director Scientific Cooperation and Higher Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to iron out details of this mega project.

Over 130 acre land of the Marine Academy in Karachi is being handed over to the Higher Education Commission to house the new university. The new university will be one of the six engineering and three technological universities being established by the government.

The engineering disciplines at the university will include marine engineering also. The classes will begin by the end of 2008 as per decision of the president of Pakistan.

The vice chancellor, heads of department and faculty of the planned university will be from France. The universities will have technology parks and business incubators for strong linkages with industry in that area.

Admission in the university will be merit-based for the brightest of students from all over the country with no quota system. The fee structure will be as low as possible, while no one would be refused because of inability to pay the fee. One billion rupees have been earmarked for scholarships and grants.