LAHORE, July 14: The University of Health Sciences board of governors on Thursday approved Rs0.309 million deficit budget for the financial year 2005-06. The UHS estimates an income of Rs137.878 and Rs138.187 million expenditures. In a news release, the UHS spokesman did not give break-up of the income.

The ninth meeting of the BoG was held here on Thursday with Prof Mahmood Ahmad Chaudhry in the chair. Vice-chancellor Prof Malik Husain Mubbashar, Chief Justice Sheikh Riaz Ahmad (retired), College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan president Prof Sultan Farooqi, Prof Zafar Iqbal Qureshi, Dr Dilawar Ali Khan, Ijaz Munir, Kamran Ali Afzal and registrar Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal attended the meeting.

The spokesman said the university would meet the deficit from the balances available with it.

The university has allocated only Rs1 million for research activities, Rs13 million for holding examinations, Rs11 million for purchase of machinery, Rs15 million for fellowship for postgraduate students, Rs4.5 million for chemicals, etc, Rs0.3 million for merit scholarships, Rs1 million for professional audit of all medical institutes in the Punjab, Rs2 million for repair and maintenance of buildings and Rs57 million for pay and allowances of the staff.

The BoGs, while approving the budget, asked the treasurer that the next budget should be consolidated for two to three years and a detailed work plan be submitted.

The board also approved the construction of a canteen on the university campus at an estimated cost of Rs2.5 million. It extended the contract of the director-general (works) of the university and re-designated him as an adviser. The board also extended the contract of the employees for next five years, who showed excellent performance during the past two years.

The board members acknowledged the university administration’s efforts in promulgating service and financial rules after formal approval by the syndicate and consequently by the governor.

Acknowledging finance department’s efforts in preparing the budget, the board sanctioned one month’s salary as honorarium for each staff member of the finance department.