PU leases land to telecom companies

By Khalid Khattak

LAHORE: THE Punjab University (PU) in a bid to generate revenue in the wake of severe cuts in grants by the federal government has leased its land to three cellular mobile companies for installation of towers.It is learnt that cellular mobile companies Warid Telecom, Mobilink and Zong have entered into a ten-year agreement with the PU.A senior PU official said university authorities felt the need to find ways to generate revenue as public sector universities were now receiving “meagre” funding from the Higher Education Commission.He said besides installation of towers, the PU administration had also invited telecom operators to use campus space for advertisement purposes. “The initiative is aimed at generating funds by allowing companies to advertise their products through billboards and temporary stalls on the campus etc,” he said.Talking to The News, a senior PU teacher seeking anonymity expressed concern over the initiative. He said quoting research reports that tower radiations were harmful and the university administration should have conducted a study of the impact of radiation on students, teachers and employees of the Punjab University. The varsity should have taken steps to counter any such danger, he added. “Unfortunately, the PU administration did not conduct any study or survey before entering into the agreement,” he claimed.There are more than 65 million mobile phones users in Pakistan and it is expected that this figure may increase to 80 million by 2010.The PU official said mobile phone companies were investing a lot in expansion of the infrastructure to meet the rising demand. He said antennas were mounted on towers and would not expose students and teachers to harmful radiation.Resident Officer (RO-II) Malik Zaheer said the PU would receive Rs 6 million annually by allowing cell phone companies to install towers on the campus. He said agreement was signed for a period of ten years with 10 percent increase annually.To a question, he said such towers were installed everywhere and did not have any harmful impact on the people. “We, however, have leased land with thin population in proximity,” he said.Malik said the areas where these towers would be erected are hostel side water tank No 3, near Shah Di Khoi, PU New Campus, near the university’s main library and area adjacent to residential colony of the varsity staff. When contacted, PU registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said the agreement was technically and economically feasible.

Source: The News International
Friday, January 16, 2009