Key points:

  • United Group of Colleges (UGC), a venture of the University of Southern Punjab, inaugurated its first South Punjab campus this week.
  • The new campus offers undergraduate degrees and vocational programmes aligned with the region’s agricultural and small‑industry sectors.
  • Scholarships are available for high‑performing students and those from low‑income families, aiming to curb the yearly exodus of talent to larger cities.

The University of Southern Punjab’s latest project marks the first higher‑education institution of its kind in a swathe of South Punjab districts that have long relied on distant metros for college studies. Until now, bright students from towns such as Kabirwala, Jampur and Dera Ghazi Khan have been compelled to relocate to Lahore, Faisalabad or Multan, a move that strains family finances and often discourues continued schooling, especially for girls. By situating a campus within reachable distance, UGC hopes to make tertiary education a realistic option for families that have historically viewed it as an unaffordable luxury.

The curriculum at the new campus is tailored to the local economy. In addition to traditional Bachelor of Arts and Science tracks, the college will launch diploma courses in agribusiness management, textile technology, and renewable‑energy maintenance—fields identified by provincial planners as growth drivers for the region. Partnerships with nearby farms and small‑scale manufacturers will provide hands‑on training, aiming to create a skilled workforce that can feed directly into South Punjab’s emerging industrial clusters.

Provincial officials and community leaders attended the opening ceremony, emphasizing that retaining talent within the district could stimulate broader socio‑economic development. “When our youth can study here, stay with their families, and later contribute to the local market, we break the cycle of brain drain,” said a senior education officer. The university has pledged a scholarship fund covering tuition for 200 meritorious or financially disadvantaged students each year, signaling a long‑term commitment to expanding access and fostering inclusive growth in one of Pakistan’s most underserved regions.