KARACHI, Dec 21: After a lapse of 34 months, the Karachi University Senate will meet on Monday.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, who is also the chancellor of public sector varsities in the province, is expected to chair the session. The last meeting of KU Senate, the supreme statutory body of the university, was held in March 2000 although the University Code requires the senate to meet twice a year.

The 10-point agenda of the meeting include approval of the budget and accounts as well as annual development plans of the last three years.

The agenda also includes approval of the statute of Dr Feroz Ahmed Institute of Mass Communication and modified statute of Dr Punjwani Centre for Molecular Medicines and Drug Development, Dr A.Q. Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and the statute for the appointment of Professor Emeritus.

The draft of the statute of the Institute of Mass Communication has not been discussed at any statutory body of the University of Karachi. The matter could not be discussed at the last meeting of the syndicate meeting on Nov 1, 2003 because of its abrupt adjournment. However, the university administration has put the issue on the agenda of the senate.

Earlier, the teachers of Mass Communication Department had expressed their strong reservations at the proposed statute of the institute. In a letter addressed to the vice-chancellor, the chairman of Mass Communication Department had invited his attention to the objectionable points and had suggested necessary amendments. The chairman had requested the vice-chancellor that the statute of the Institute of Mass Communication must be made in-line with the statute of similar institutes and research centres operational at the campus. At other institutes, donors’ nominees were not more than two whereas the Institute of Mass Communication had nine.—APP