SARGODHA: The University of Sargodha syndicate in its third and last meeting of 2017 has approved disaffiliation of 71 private sector colleges for their poor performance and falling short of the required standards.

It also approved the establishment of Noon Business School in recognition of the services of the Noon family for the cause of Pakistan. In addition, the syndicate approved the launching of an evening programme (certificate, diploma and MSc) in military sciences and management. As a long-awaited step, the revised service statutes of the employees of grades 1 to 21 were also recommended.

The syndicate approved the appointment of more than 150 regular faculty members in different departments of the university, including eight professors, nine associate professors, 32 assistant professors and 80 lecturers. The appointments, made through a merit-based transparent process, were recommended by two successive selection boards.

The syndicate took notice of the alleged subversive activities of a teacher and recommended his removal from all statutory bodies, including the office of social sciences dean.

It approved to grant 15 PhD degrees to candidates of different faculties. It also sanctioned an increase of 200-400 per cent in the death compensation benefits for the families of the deceased employees of the university during their service by bringing the benefits on a par with that of the government employees.

The meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmed was attended by all syndicate members, including GCU Lahore VC Prof Dr. Hassan Amir Shah, parliamentarians Dr. Nadia Aziz, Waris Kaloo and Gazanfar Cheena, representatives from higher education department and Higher Education Commission, education board secretary and principals of Jauharabad and Mianwali colleges.

ACCIDENT: Four members of a family were killed in a road accident on Sunday near Jahaz Chowk railway crossing, Jauharabad, some 40 kilometers from here.

A Bannu-bound bus collided with a car, killing Muhammad Irfan, his mother Fateh Bibi, sister-in-law Kausar and driver Hasnain Wadhal on the spot.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2018