District Chitral is the largest district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is hub of immense untapped economic potential when it comes to mineral extraction, hydro power generation, tourism, centre of oldest ancient civilizations (Kalash etc.), geo-strategic economic importance, and connectivity of the country with Afghanistan, Central Asia, alternate and contingency road to CPEC etc.
The people of Chitral are instinctively inclined towards education, as they are economically dependent on cash earnings of agricultural products. Resultantly, the literacy rate in Chitral is relatively high i.e. above 71% and falls around number seventh in the province.
Total number of public & private Colleges/Inter Schools imparting education to the youth of Chitral within its territorial jurisdiction is ninety seven, while the number of which can feed the proposed campus with reasonably large number of students.
The people of Chitral are comparatively poor, they cannot afford high expenses of higher education for their children in down districts, as job opportunities in the district are scarce and cultivable land is only 02% of the total area. Inspite of the poverty, they manage to provide education to their children.
There were two university campuses currently operating in district Chitral i.e. SBBU Sub Campus at Chitral, and AWKUM Sub Campus Chitral. The strength of the campuses is growing over period of time. The pressure for the provision of academic facilities has also increased manifolds. The present academic, research and residential facilities was not cater for the actual requirements of the university as far as boys and girls are concerned.
The situation warrants the construction and development of a full-fledge university at Chitral in order to meet the present and expected high demand for higher educational facilities for students.
University of Chitral will act as “Regional Education Corridor” for Pakistan, Afghanistan, Central Asia via Wakhan Strip, Gilgit Baltistan and Gilgit-Chitral, Dir, Malakand alternate CPEC Route. It will enable the region to promote development through creation of job opportunities,advance skills provision, leading to accelerated economic growth and poverty reduction. While making regional connectivity, competitiveness and trade, this university will create a knowledge platform so that all national, regional and continental stakeholders may connect, collaborate and jointly work to produce world class human resources to make this ambitious plan successful. This university will play important role in Vision 2025 and Five Year Plan 2013-18, balanced development agenda of the Planning Commission, GOP.