Abdul Ghani

The National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) has sought funding approval for the construction of two new hostels to facilitate female students, particularly those from Balochistan and other remote regions, under the upcoming Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), reports Wealth Pakistan.

According to official documents, a girls’ hostel with a capacity of 815 students is estimated to cost Rs2,239.245 million. The project will be presented before the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for consideration and approval.

The proposed building will cover 181,372 square feet and be constructed as a G+9 facility. It will feature 382 rooms, comprising 61 single-occupancy units and 764 beds in double-occupancy arrangements, significantly enhancing residential capacity for female students across various disciplines.

In addition to this major project, a separate girls’ hostel accommodating 420 students has also been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs969.974 million. This scheme will be taken up at the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) level.

The facility will span 76,000 square feet (G+6) and include 140 triple-bed rooms to accommodate students cost-effectively. University officials said the increasing number of female students, particularly from underserved provinces such as Balochistan, has created acute pressure on existing hostel infrastructure.

They stressed that the lack of safe, affordable accommodation remains a primary barrier preventing many talented students from pursuing higher education in science, engineering, and technology fields.

The proposed hostels aim to address this capacity gap while promoting greater inclusion and regional representation in higher education. Once approved and funded, these projects are expected to significantly enhance residential facilities, strengthen female participation in technical education, and support the broader objective of equitable access to quality higher education across Pakistan.

Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Magsi said the expansion of hostel facilities at the NUST would play a critical role in increasing access to quality higher education for students from underdeveloped regions, particularly Balochistan.

He said that providing safe, modern accommodation for female students was essential to ensuring their sustained participation in science and technology disciplines. “Many talented girls from remote districts hesitate to pursue higher studies due to the lack of secure residential facilities. These projects will remove a major barrier,” he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk