KARACHI: Rs320 million Urdu varsity annual budget approved
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, July 19: The senate of the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology, approved a varsity budget of Rs320 millions for 2004-2005 the other day.
The senate meeting, held with the deputy chairperson, Jamiluddin Aali, in the chair, also approved different development projects worth Rs80 million. The recurring expenditures of the university were estimated around Rs240 million, a source on the campus said.
The senate, as per the university ordinance, also picked three names from a list furnished by a search committee, constituted by the president, who is also chancellor of the university, to recommend the name for appointment as university's vice-chancellor.
The post of vice-chancellor fell vacant some seven months back as the then vice-chancellor of Urdu varsity decided to join the University of Karachi. When contacted, Mr Aali denied to disclose the names finalized by the senate members at the meeting, saying he had committed not to disclose those. However, he informed that the names of probables for the post of vice-chancellor had been sent to the president on Monday for a final say.
The senate approved monthly medical allowances for university employees, ranging from Rs350 to Rs750 for unmarried ones, and from Rs750 to 1,500 for those who were married. There was no provision for medical allowances at the university before the decision, which would be effective from August 1, the source added.
The senate also formed a committee with Mr Aali as its convener, to pursue the government and banks for acquisition of land and loans for development of a housing society for the employees of the Urdu university. The committee will negotiate with the banks for softer house loans.
The members of the housing committee, as decided by the senate, are: Mrs Nadra Panjwani, G A Allana, the vice-chancellor of the university and two presidents from two teachers' associations of the arts and science campuses of the university.
The senate also approved two posts of grade 21 at the university, so that persons could be appointed for discharging duties similar to that of the pro-vice-chancellor of other public sector universities, if needed in future.
It was resolved in the meeting that evening classes at the Abdul Haq campus of the university be restored. The meeting also directed the administration to examine the possibilities of giving affiliation to medical education institutions.
An appeal by seven teachers of science faculty for their promotion to the posts of associate professors was also upheld by the senate. The senate also debarred a teacher on disciplinary ground from contesting elections to the senate seat for next three years, the source said.
The senate was also apprised of two projects to the tune of Rs70 millions, which had been sent to Higher Education Commission for approval and funding. One project paper discussed the establishment of a house of translation, composition and compilation of Urdu books, while the other one pertained to renovation of the Abdul Haq Campus' building and expansion in the libraries of the university.
