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| December 10, 2005 | Saturday | Ziqa’ad 7, 1426 |
Urdu varsity faces problems without own statutes
ISLAMABAD, Dec 9: The Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology (FUUAST) is yet to have its own statutes which is hampering the university’s smooth functioning, Dawn has learnt. Established under the Federal Universities Model Ordinance of 2002, the FUUAST formally started its operations on November 1, 2003, aimed at promoting the national language in the country.
“It’s been only two years since the university opened its doors and already it has started facing problems due to non- availability of its own statutes,” said a senior official based at the university’s Islamabad campus.
Absence of the statutes has encouraged some officials of the university to misuse their authority which was damaging the university’s name at the very outset, the source said.
Mismanagement by such elements has plagued the Islamabad campus of the university for the last one year, the source alleged.
Recently, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) reported that the Islamabad campus was unable to ensure academic quality of its programmes because of shortage of faculty, laboratories and absence of proper administrative structure.
The commission also found out that serious administrative and financial malpractices were committed at the campus with impunity.
According to the commission’s observations, during the last couple of years, recruitments were made on the basis of personal liking and disliking.
Likewise, the commission revealed that official funds of the university were utilized to benefit a select lot and no records were kept.
When contacted, Prof Dr Syed Iqbal Mohsan, Vice-Chancellor of the University in Karachi, confirmed that the university’s senate had received the HEC’s monitoring report regarding mismanagement at its Islamabad campus.
“Yes, the report has observed certain financial and administrative irregularities committed at the university’s Islamabad campus,” Dr Mohsan admitted.
“We have hired a reputed private firm to get the university’s audit done.
And, the Higher Education Commission has also been involved to further dig up facts about alleged financial irregularities committed at the campus,” he added.
As soon as, the senate of the university receives reports from these two quarters, it will take firm action regardless who was behind the mismanagement, the vice chancellor assured.
In response to a question, Dr Mohsan said the university’s senate had constituted a special committee to work out its own statutes which would be ready within six months.
Since it involves “a lot of issues”, he said preparation of statutes was taking time.
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