PESHAWAR: Students of merged districts studying in different public sector universities here on Monday demanded of the government to provide 3G-4G internet facilities in the region to help them take online classes.

Holding a protest demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club here, they said if the government was not able to provide internet facility in the merged areas then it should reopen the universities under SOPs.

The protesters, including Nasir Khan, Alamzeb Afridi, Kaleemullah Orakzai and others, said the universities continued online classes despite winter vacations, and it was not possible for them to attend the classes because they had gone to their villages after the closure of hostels.

They said initiating online classes was a good decision but the students belonging to the merged districts could not avail the facility due to non-availability of internet, especially in remote localities.

Besides, they pointed out that the tribal districts also faced prolonged power suspensions, and in the prevailing situation they won’t be unable to cover their courses and prepare for examinations.

The protestors demanded of the education minister and HEC to take notice of the problems being faced by them, and reopen universities after winter vacation to save their precious time.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2020