August 12, 2007	Sunday	Rajab 27, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 11: Governor Khalid Maqbool has disallowed the Punjab University to establish its own medical college and attached teaching hospital as well as an agriculture college.

The governor, who is currently visiting the public-sector universities to review ongoing and future development projects, asked the PU administration to use its excellence available in life sciences/biological sciences towards research in medical and agriculture domain.

The PU had projected an expenditure of Rs2.6 billion on setting up its medical college and attached teaching hospital and Rs650 million for the establishment of a College of Agriculture.

The governor, who got a detailed presentation on future development projects of the PU at the Governor’s House, is expected to visit the university on Monday (tomorrow) to have another round of briefing on projects.

It is learnt that the PU administration had presented over 50 major development projects costing over Rs12 billion. The governor reportedly approved 60 per cent of the proposed projects.

Sources said the governor, at a meeting at the Governor’s House, asked the PU administration to focus on its ‘historical strength’ and integrate different programmes to churn out graduates who would readily be accepted in the job market.

He asked the university administration to involve all stakeholders, including the faculty and students, and analyse market demands before launching new academic disciplines to ensure that the government spending was in the right direction.

On the basis of the governor’s instructions, the PU administration has identified its weaker areas and now come up with a plan to strengthen its half-a-century old infrastructure, convert main library into a modern e-library and automate its examination department.

With overall computerisation, the university also wants to secure its students’ record, examination record, transcripts, degrees, verification, registration, affiliation record of affiliated colleges, besides bringing its facilitation services online.

Similarly, the administration plans to upgrade its hostels by equipping rooms with all required facilities, improving kitchens and other service areas. It also thinks of introducing sports, co-curricular and entertainment facilities in hostels.

The future development projects approved by the governor are: upgrade of political science department to the Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies; upgrade of Institute of Communication Studies to the Centre for Excellence for Media Research; establishment of department of criminology, security and development studies; strengthening of the Department of English Language and Literature.

Launching of new disciplines at faculty of engineering and technology; upgrade of Centre for Coal Technology to National Centre of Fuel and Energy Engineering; strengthening of GIS Centre by introducing remote sensing, spatial data and GPS labs; provision of research facilities for doctorate and post-doctorate level and upgrade of laboratories at department of microbiology and molecular genetics.

Also included are: strengthening and upgrading of department of geography; provision of academic and research facilities at psychology and applied psychology department; strengthening of mathematics and computation department; establishment of School of Engineering Research; strengthening of equipment and laboratories at the Institute of Quality and Technology Management; launching of new disciplines and laboratories at the PUCIT and establishment of infrastructure that includes artificial intelligence, data communication and network, and cyber security.

Upgrade of College of Pharmacy to Centre for Excellence in Pharmaceutical Sciences; establishment of college of engineering and emerging technologies; establishment of college of statistical and actuarial sciences; strengthening and upgrading of Hailey College of Banking and Finance; provision of new infrastructure for examination department and computerisation of old record, provision of essential services like water supply, electricity and sewerage at the university are some of the other projects in the pipeline.

The PU also plans to take up rehabilitation and face-lifting of old buildings to preserve the heritage; renovation and provision of facilities in hostels for resident students; provision of transport facilities for students and staff; provision of hi-fi and technology-based facilities for students and researchers on all campuses; establishment of purpose-built building for dean’s, research and external linkages offices; strengthening of the PU Health Centre, Phase-I; provision of digital and comfortable environment in the main library and means for preservation of books and manuscript; and modernisation of the PU Press and Publication Department.