The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has informed the federal government that establishing a separate university in Upper Chitral district is not feasible, proposing instead that funds be allocated to upgrade the existing University of Chitral in neighbouring Lower Chitral.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced the establishment of a university in Upper Chitral during a visit to the district on October 31. However, following formal correspondence between the federal and provincial governments, both sides have now agreed to pursue the creation of a sub-campus of the University of Chitral in Upper Chitral rather than setting up a new standalone institution.
Officials in the provincial higher education department (HED) told Dawn that a feasibility study for the proposed sub-campus would be initiated. The province has also recommended that development funds be used to strengthen infrastructure and academic capacity at the University of Chitral to better serve students from both Upper and Lower Chitral.
According to official documents, KP currently has 34 public sector universities, including five established in the past five years. Authorities warned that rapid expansion, coupled with stagnant federal grants over the last five years, has created severe financial constraints and negatively affected student enrolment in existing institutions.
The University of Chitral, located about two hours from Upper Chitral, currently has around 1,600 students enrolled across 23 academic programmes, including 13 BS and 10 MPhil programmes, supported by 26 PhD and 38 non-PhD faculty members. Officials said the university already caters to students from both districts.
Instead of a new university, the province has proposed cost-effective measures such as constructing administrative blocks, hostels, a central library, laboratories and faculty housing. It has also sought Rs1 billion to support allied health sciences programmes, artificial intelligence labs and long-term financial sustainability, along with increased HEC recurring grants.
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The issue has revived debate over higher education policy in KP, where several universities face low enrolment and financial stress, prompting experts to call for strengthening existing institutions rather than creating new ones.