LAHORE, April 10: Governor Khalid Maqbool directed the Punjab University administration to fill vacant seats in all departments. Presiding over the deans meeting here on Monday he said gender segregation must be eliminated in order to provide congenial academic environment in the varsity.

He said the curriculum of various disciplines of faculty of Islamic studies should be reviewed and modernised according to the international academic needs. The Oriental College — the oldest institution of PU — should be provided funds for its preservation.

The governor said inter-departmental linkages should be promoted. He appreciated the development works taken place in the varsity during the last few years.

Vice-chancellor Arshad Mahmood briefed the governor that for good governance and better management the faculties have been restructured from nine to 13.

Faculty of Science dean Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran pointed out the shortage of qualified staff in the science faculty. He said only 53 PhDs were in the faculty against the required strength of 264. Some 100 posts were lying vacant but the varsity was not finding suitable people to fill them.

He said the aim of any university was to develop a reputation for being a world class organisation for dissemination of knowledge.

Dean of faculty of behavioural and social sciences Prof Dr Mugheesuddin Sheikh said the vision of his faculty was elevation of behavioural and social sciences and to develop linkages between faculty and the industry to promote research with focus on human resource development.

Deans of faculty of arts and humanities Prof Shaista Sonnu Sirajuddin, commerce Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, economics Prof Zafar Iqbal Jadoon, education and research Prof Nayyar Raza Zaidi, chemical engineering and technology Prof Arif Butt, Islamic studies Prof Samar Fatima, law Prof Dil Muhammad Malik, oriental learning Prof Akram Chaudhry and pharmacy Prof Muhammad Jamshaid briefed the governor on the development of their faculties.