FAISALABAD, Feb 27: As many as 60 posts of professors and lecturers of different subjects have been lying vacant in the University of Agriculture here for many years.

Sources told this correspondent here on Thursday that professors of some agriculture subjects were not available for students of PhD, MPhil and masters.

According to sources, there are 466 sanctioned posts in the Faisalabad University of Agriculture. However, there are only 335 staff members currently, who include 48 professors, 83 associate professors, 110 assistant professors, 79 lecturers, 11 SROs and four administrators.

The university administration only recently hired 71 lecturers on contract to overcome the shortage of teaching staff.

According to the sources, 5,217 girls and boys were currently enrolled in the university. There are 330 students of PhD, 140 of M.Phil, 1,271 of Masters, 2,526 of bachelor programmes and 950 of special programmes introduced by the university.

The university administration, according to sources, had tried its best to fill the vacant posts, but failed to achieve the goal due to a variety of reasons especially lack of interest on the part of the higher authorities concerned.

BASANT: Basant will be celebrated here on Feb 28 (Friday)

Special programmes have been arranged by people belonging to all walks of life in this regard. Colourful banners, kites and posters have been displayed by multinational companies along various city roads to attract the people. The TMA has beautified gardens and parks with big kites and colourful banners.

Local police and administration have also made arrangements to take action against use of metal wire for kite-flying and aerial firing.

Youth and aged people are thronging the Arshad Market and other bazaars for purchasing kites and string.