September 15, 2007	Saturday	Ramazan 2, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 14: The Punjab government has committed to allocating 3,396.62 acres to 10 public universities to set up their sub-campuses in 15 cities in the province.Of 3,396.62 acres, the Punjab government has already allocated 1,316.12 acres, while the process of allocation of the remaining 2,080.50 acres is in process.

Governor Khalid Maqbool said this on Friday at a meeting wherein 10 public universities’ vice-chancellors were present.

Mr Maqbool said all universities would be given Rs3.677 billion, of which Rs2.368 million had already been approved, for opening sub-campuses.

The meeting learnt the sub-campuses had enrolled 6,000 students in 66 subjects. The enrollment will be raised to 7,000 next year.

The Punjab University has established its sub-campus in Gujranwala; University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, in Faisalabad, Kala Shah Kaku and Rachna College, Gujranwala; Lahore College for Women’s University in Jhang; University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Jhang; University of Education in Okara; UET, Taxila, in Chakwal; University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, in Khushab; University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, in Toba Tek Singh, Depalpur and Bahawalnagar; Islamia University, Bahawalpur, in Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar; and Bahauddin Zikariya University, Multan, in Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The governor said the universities must impart good quality education and introduce new subjects in collaboration with local industry and requirements at their sub-campuses. He also emphasised the need to hire qualified faculty to accelerate the level of learning.

He also urged vice-chancellors to keep on bringing their sub-campuses’ students to main campuses so that they could adopt academic environment. He said universities should invite sub-campuses’ students to main campuses for a couple of weeks as part of their curricula.

library: Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Arshad Mahmood says libraries help build nations but unfortunately our society has not made the most of it.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of a library and a language laboratory at the Institute of Education and Research (IER) on Friday, Mr Mahmood said books helped readers increased their knowledge and libraries were reservoirs of books.

The VC said he worked with a vision to achieve success with the cooperation of university faculty members. He said he as well as faculty members were successful in bringing about changes to promote the cause of education.

He urged students and teachers to frequently use libraries and learn knowledge to stay updated and relevant to the world at large.

Earlier, IER Director Prof Hafiz Muhammad Iqbal said the library had been constructed over 64,000 square feet and housed 85,000 books. He said the library would serve 1,100 students and help develop a better educational environment. He said the library would soon be computerised.

Later, the VC inaugurated the library and language laboratory.

GCU: The Government College University, Lahore, on Friday declared the results of MSc psychology Part-II final examination for 2007.

concern: Students and staff of the Government Polytechnic College for Women, Jain Mandir, have expressed concern over reports that the college building is going to be evacuated by the Punjab government.

The college is situated in the historical Shadi Lal building and a main block has some 1,500 students and 150 teachers.

According to reports, the government has decided to evacuate the entire premises to restore the building and transfer the faculty to various places of Lahore.

In a statement issued here, the teachers and students of the college threatened to block the evacuation bid and go on strike if the plan was not withdrawn. The principal and the staff of the college said they would save their alma mater at any cost.

They said the Government College, Chuna Mandi, too, was established at an historical place but the government had handed over the place to the college after restoring it.

The Shadi Lal building houses major faculties like electrical, electronics, commerce, and the college of fashion and design.