Chandigarh: The Punjab government will set up 13 new government colleges across the state this year.

State government officials said on Thursday that a uniform building layout plan for all these colleges was finalised at a meeting between Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and a panel of the University Grants Commission (UGC) here.

Outlining the government's perspective for higher education in the state, Badal told the UGC team that emphasis should be on spreading quality education of global standards in every corner of the state.

The colleges are being set up at Sardulgarh (District Mansa), Balachaur (Nawanshahar), Guru Harsahai (Ferozepur), Choong (Tarn Taran), Dhillwan (Barnala), Narot Jaimalsingh (Gurdaspur), Sikhwala (Muktsar), Nihalsinghwala (Moga), Jaito (Faridkot), University College, Ghudda (Bhatinda), University College, Chunni Kalan (Fatehgarh Sahib), Ghanaur (Patiala) and Mithra (Kapurthala) at a cost of about Rs.104 crore. IANS