ISLAMABAD, Aug 17: The Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) syndicate faces a Rs65.5 million deficit in its budgetary estimates for the financial year 2002-03, official sources told this reporter.

After a day-long discussion at its meeting on Saturday, the syndicate approved allocations to the tune of Rs189.53 million, which were Rs1.73 million less than the last year’s Rs191.268 million.

Expenditure has been estimated at Rs255 million, which is up by Rs58 million over last year’s Rs197 million.

The government’s regular grant of Rs112.5 million, which is Rs15 million more than the last year’s, would form the major chunk of the budget.

The QAU will contribute Rs76 million from its own resources to this year’s budgetary allocations. The university will also provide one million rupees from the profit on research endowment fund.

The sources said most of the budgetary allocations for the year 2002-03 would be spent on pays & allowances, which would consume Rs161 million. “Other charges” will consume Rs72 million.

An official concerned told this reporter that since 2001-02, the pay structure of university employees had been enhanced, but the federal government had not provided for the added expenses so far. That’s why, he added, the varsity was facing a deficit of Rs65 million.

Criticizing the recommendations of National Task Force on Higher Education that public sector universities should be run by nominated governing bodies, he said the government should improve the existing system instead of introducing World Bank-sponsored governing bodies.