POLITICS & POLICY MAKING
![Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government to Sell Educational Land Amid Financial Crisis](https://4thpillarpost.com/uploads/news/270720241359007.jpg)
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced the sale of 700 kanals of land from the Bacha Khan Greater Educational Complex in Mardan to raise funds amid severe financial difficulties. According to official sources, this decision is aimed at generating Rs35 billion to repay landowners from whom the land was originally purchased.
The Bacha Khan Greater Educational Complex, which encompasses 4,800 kanals allocated during the ANP regime, was intended to house the Bacha Khan Medical College, Abdul Wali Khan Agricultural University, and Abdul Wali Khan Engineering University. However, due to financial constraints, the KP government has opted to sell part of this land.
Official documents indicate that if the original landowners are interested in repurchasing the land, they will be given the opportunity. If not, the land will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Committees have been formed for all four educational institutions involved to facilitate this process.
Kamran Afridi, Secretary of the Higher Education Department of KP, explained the dire financial situation during a conversation with Geo News. He highlighted that the Supreme Court had ordered the provincial government to pay over Rs30 billion to the landowners. With universities already struggling financially and the Higher Education Commission halting funding, selling the land has become a necessary measure.
The sale of this land underscores the broader financial challenges faced by the KP government and its educational institutions. As the government navigates these financial hurdles, the future of educational development in the region remains uncertain.