Abdul Ghani

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

NUST has proposed the construction of a girls’ hostel with a capacity of 815 students at an estimated cost of Rs2,239 million. The project is scheduled to be presented before the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) for consideration and approval. The proposed building will span 181,372 square feet and will be developed as a G+9 structure. It will consist of 382 rooms, including 61 single-occupancy rooms and 764 spaces in double-occupancy arrangements, ensuring improved residential capacity for female students enrolled in various disciplines.

In addition to this major project, the university has also proposed another girls’ hostel facility for 420 students at a cost of Rs970 million. This scheme will be taken up at the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) level. The second facility will cover 76,000 square feet (G+6) and include 140 triple-bed rooms to accommodate students in a cost-effective manner.

According to the document, the increasing number of female students, particularly from underserved provinces such as Balochistan, has created acute pressure on existing hostel infrastructure. Lack of safe and affordable accommodation remains one of the primary barriers preventing many talented students from pursuing higher education in science, engineering, and technology fields.

The proposed hostels are aimed at addressing this capacity gap while promoting greater inclusion and regional representation in higher education. Once approved and funded, the 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, Khalid Magsi, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, said that expansion of hostel facilities at 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 a lack of secure residential facilities. These projects will remove a major barrier,” he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk