November 15, 2002	Friday	Ramazan 9, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Nov 14: The government has established a Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology Islamabad through an ordinance with Urdu to remain the main language of instruction and teaching.

The university will have its principal seat at Islamabad and will have the Federal Government Urdu Science College, Karachi, and Federal Government Urdu Arts College, Karachi, as constituent institutions.

Under the rule, the university will have academic, financial and administrative autonomy, including the power to employ officers, teachers and other employees while the university will be controlled by a senate, a syndicate and an academic council.

All recognized teaching in different courses will be conducted by the university or the colleges while the president will be the chancellor of the university and the chairperson of the senate, whereas the federal minister for education will be the pro-chancellor of the university.

The vice-chancellor will be appointed by the chancellor on the basis of recommendations made by the senate.

The senate will be a body responsible for the governance of the university and will comprise the chancellor, the deputy chair of the senate, vice-chancellor, secretary ministry of education or his nominee, five persons from society at large being persons of distinction in various fields.

The body will also include president, Anjuman-i-Taraqqi Pakistan, one person from amongst the alumni of the university, two university teachers, three persons from the academic community of the country, other than an employee of the university and one person nominated by the commission.

The university will provide education and scholarship in branches of knowledge which it deem fit and will make provisions for research, service to society and for the application, advancement and dissemination of knowledge. It will also prescribe courses of studies to be conducted by it and the colleges, will hold examinations and award and confer degrees, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions.

It will also prescribe the terms and conditions of employment of the officers, teachers and other employees of the university and lay down terms and conditions that may be different from those applicable to government servants in general, engage persons on contracts of specified duration and specify the terms of each engagements.

The university will also confer honorary degrees or other distinctions on approved persons, institute programmes for the exchange of students and teachers between the university and other universities, educational institutions and research organizations inside as well as outside Pakistan.

The university will also have the power to provide career counselling and job search services to students and alumni, maintain linkages with alumni, develop and implement fund-raising plans, provide and support the academic development of the faculty of the university, confer degrees on persons who have carried on independent research, affiliate and disaffiliate educational institutions under prescribed conditions, inspect colleges and other educational institutions affiliated or seeking affiliation with it.

It could also cooperate with other universities, public authorities or private organizations, inside as well as outside Pakistan, besides instituting professorships, associate professorships, assistant professorships and lectureships etc.

It can also create posts for research, extension, administration and other related purposes, award financial assistance to students in need, fellowships, scholarships, medals and prizes.

The university has the authority to establish teaching departments, schools, colleges, faculties, institutes, museums and other centres of learning for the development of teaching and research and to provide for the residence of the students of the university and the colleges, to maintain order, discipline and security on the campuses of the university and the colleges, to promote the extra-curricular and recreational activities of such students and to make arrangements for promoting their health and general welfare.

The university can make provision for research, advisory or consultancy services and, with these objects, to enter into arrangements with other institutions, public or private bodies, commercial and industrial enterprises.

The ordinance stated that the university will be open to all persons of either gender and or whatever religion, race, creed, class, colour or domicile and no person shall be denied the privileges of the university on the grounds of religion, race, caste, creed, class, colour or domicile.

The university will institute financial aid programmes for students in need, to the extent considered feasible by the senate.