LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Higher Education Syed Raza Ali Gillani has expressed dismay at the Punjab University (PU) authorities for not implementing recommendations of a performance evaluation meeting held two months ago.

Sources said the minister expressed his discontent during a meeting held on Tuesday to evaluate overall performance of the administration. Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zakaria Zakir, Registrar Dr Khalid Khan, all deans, directors, hostel wardens and representatives from Punjab Higher Education Commission were also present in the meeting.

They said Mr Gillani discussed the recommendations submitted by the last meeting and also questioned the authorities for failing to hold a Senate meeting.

The minister asked hostel wardens why they did not check and report to police about outsiders living in hostels and the students who had painted Afghan and their organisation’s flags in their rooms. He directed the wardens to recover hostel rooms from illegal possession of Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT).

Some wardens replied that they had reported the matter to the authorities but no action was taken against the student organisation at which the minister directed them to directly report to police. He also directed the authorities to remove the flags of the IJT from university premises.

The wardens also presented a report on biometric system, saying it had been installed at all 11 girls’ hostels and would soon be installed in the boys’ section. Sources said the minister asked the wardens to issue cards to all hostel residents.

The meeting also discussed the pending issue of starting a medical and dental college and vowed to get Pakistan Medical and Dental Council’s approval soon.

The sources said the minister constituted a five-member recruitment facilitation committee for teachers’ promotion and a three-member body for improving the university’s ranking and resolving pending issues. He also directed the administration to adjust student-teacher ratio at 1:30 as per international standards.

The PU spokesman said they had written to the governor/chancellor to convene a meeting of the Senate and were awaiting his reply. He claimed the Students Record Management System was 90 per cent complete and they would not allow any organisation to operate on the university premises. The administration was implementing all recommendations of the evaluation meetings, he added.

He said teachers’ promotions were pending due to litigation by their colleagues and all cases would be settled soon.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2018