ABBOTTABAD: The Higher Education Commission has granted no-objection certificate (NOC) to Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, allowing it to admit students in the undergraduate programme in nine departments.

A letter to this effect was issued to the university management by DG HEC on Friday.

The departments which are given accreditation are micro biology, management sciences, pharmacy, information technology, mathematics, economics, English, Pak Studies and psychology.

Commenting on the development, Vice-Chancellor Dr Iftikhar Ahmed said untiring efforts of the university staff resulted in the varsity getting the NOC from HEC.

Dr Ahmed said all efforts would be made to make the university as one of the best learning centres of the country. He said the varsity would be affiliated with other highly ranked national and international establishments to provide more and more chances to students under students exchange programme for higher education.

HYDEL PROJECTS INAUGURATED: Two small hydel power projects with capacity of 130KV were inaugurated by MNA Dr Azhar Khan Jadoon at Molian and Bakot villages here.

PTI chief Imran Khan and provincial minister Atif Khan were scheduled to inaugurate the power projects, but they could not proceed to the sites due to bad weather.

The two small power projects are part of 35MW power generation projects of Pedo (Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organisation) which are being established in 12 districts of KP.

Speaking on the occasion, Pedo director Akbar Ayub said 15 more small hydel power projects would be installed in Abbottabad district in current fiscal year.

From Molian power unit, 100KV electric would be generated, powering 200 houses of the village, one school , two health centres, four mosques and at least 17 shops and restaurants, while from Bakot power unit, 53 houses, one mosque, four hotels and shops will be getting electricity.

On the occasion, Azhar Jadoon said the PTI-led government was committed to bringing all the under-developed areas of KP at a par with the developed ones.

OFFICE-BEARERS ELECTED: Eng Janzeb Khan was re-elected unopposed as president of the Hazara Chamber of Commerce and industry (HCCI) for next term.

Janzeb Khan is also the pioneer member of the chamber.

Other office-bearers included Asif Hussain, senior vice president, and Sadiq Sultan vice president.

Published in Dawn, September 24th, 2016