KARACHI: Real estate tycoon and chairman of Bahria Town Malik Riaz announced on Thursday his plan to set up two universities – one each in Karachi and Hyderabad – to be named after Mutta­hida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain.

Addressing a press conference here at the Governor’s House, Mr Riaz said that a rapid bus service would be introduced in Karachi on two routes — from Bahria Township to Tower, and from Bahria Township to Quaid-i-Azam International Airport.

Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad was present on the occasion.

Mr Riaz said that he would purchase land needed for setting up a modern medicare institute as planned by Dow Medical College University and added that residential plots would be given to `martyrs’ of MQM in the Bahria Townships.

He said that construction of universities would begin in January next year and would be completed by the end of 2015 and academic activities would start in January 2016.

Governor Ibad welcomed the announcements.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2014