LAHORE: The Punjab University syndicate on Thursday approved Rs9 billion budget for 2017-18.

The syndicate meeting was presided over by provisional Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zaffar Mueen Nasir.

Some members of the syndicate and senate staged a demonstration outside the VC office against Prof Nasir for chairing an “illegal meeting”. They said the VC could not convene the [syndicate] meeting as a court had granted a stay against it. The Punjab University expects a total grant of Rs2.548bn from the Higher Education Commission which is 38 percent of the total budget.

According to a varsity official, the university has increased research grant from Rs120 million to Rs150m. The varsity has increased registration and examination fee by 5pc for MA/MSc and BA/BSc examinations.

“Special students will also be provided with free education along with boarding facilities while students taking admission on sports basis will also get free education. The university will continue tuition fee waiver for Hafiz-i-Quran students,” the budget document says.

The university has allocated Rs70m for overseas scholarships and another Rs70m for participation in national and international conferences. A sum of Rs11m has been earmarked for scholarship, student affairs and career counseling. The HEC scholarships worth Rs9.74m and Punjab Endowment Education Fund scholarships will also be provided to students.

The budget document says the Punjab University will provide Rs220.4m subsidy for hostels, Rs4.83m for transport and Rs10.14m for internet to students. The total subsidy on these services has been increased from Rs210m to Rs270m. Subsidy on electricity bills in teaching departments is also being provided.

The varsity has also allocated Rs410m for development projects.

Before the start of the syndicate meeting a good number of faculty members gathered outside the VC office and warned the administration that it was holding an “illegal meeting” in the presence of a court’s stay order. Holding placards and banners the participants chanted slogans against the VC.

Talking to reporters, Academic Staff Association members Dr Kamran Abid, Dr. Azhar Naeem, Dr Ayub Afridi and Dr. Yumna said the meeting was illegal as the approval [of convening the meeting including its agenda items] had not been sought from the chancellor as ordered by the Lahore High Court.

The senate members said even the quorum of the syndicate meeting was not complete which was a gross violation of the rules. They said as per university calendar, one-half of the total strength of the syndicate was mandatory in attendance to fulfil the requirement of the quorum.

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2017