LAHORE, Aug 7: Governor Khalid Maqbool on Thursday imposed a ban on increase of any kind in the existing fees being charged by all public sector universities and autonomous education institutions in the Punjab.

He was speaking at a meeting held at the Lahore College for Women University to review higher education reforms agenda.

The governor said the government would ensure that no eligible student could be denied admission to higher education institutions. He said the government would also give scholarships to needy students.

The governor stressed that girls must be imparted purposeful education.

He said the women universities should accept the challenge and impart quality and research-based education to help women attain social and economic empowerment. He said that only quality education could restore Pakistani degrees’ sanctity at international level. The governor appreciated LCWU’s initiative to declare a research methodology paper compulsory for all MA and MSc disciplines.

LCWU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Bushra Mateen said the fine arts department would start performing arts and bachelor of fine arts classes from the next academic year.

She said that different one-year diploma and three-month certificate courses for graduate women would also be launched from next month.

The governor also visited university’s newly established pharmaceutics department.