The PTI had come into power with a promise to focus on education with the health sector being another part of the much-chanted slogans, the fact of the matter is that the 21st century students and teaching staff at the historic Islamia College Peshawar will now don’t have internet.

In this connection, 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Wednesday that the reason behind the latest grim development was the same reason: one of the oldest higher education institutions is facing a financial crunch just like the other counterparts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Official documents show that the internet service is suspended that the Islamia College Peshawar – which now enjoys the university status – couldn’t pay an amount of over Rs40 million due in bills.

This amount accumulated to the current level as the institution did not pay any money to the Higher Education Commission under this head for the last nine months.

As a result of internet suspension, university sources say, the academic activities have been badly affected, especially for the MPhil and PhD scholars who cannot continue with their research.

Talking about the issue, Dr Abrar Ahmed blamed the coronavirus for the paucity of resources currently experienced by the Islamia College. They had held discussions with the Higher Education Commission on the issue, he said, hoping that the internet service would soon be restored.

It is worth noting that the universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been facing a severe financial crisis which is quite opposite to the claims that the PTI, running the province since 2013, will increase the education budget.

And this trend has now being witnessed in Punjab as well after the PTI assumed power in the province after the 2018 elections.

Established in 1913, the Islamia College Peshawar was granted the status of university in 2008. It is one of the oldest and historic higher education in the region along with the Government College Lahore (1863) and Gordon College Rawalpindi (1893).