GUJRAT: The University of Gujrat (UoG) administration has sought clarification over the attachment of its constituent Nawaz Sharif Medical College (NSMC) with King Edward Medical University (KEMU) Lahore. The attachment was proposed by the health department to the higher education department (HED).

The HED had forwarded the proposal to the UoG administration as well as the Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital (ABSTH), NSMC principal and the district administration for feedback.

UoG Registrar Dr Tahir Aqeel told Dawn that the varsity administration understood that the government had proposed NSMC’s attachment with the KEMU like the college had earlier been attached with the University of Health Sciences (UHS) or the authorities wanted to bring the college under the administrative control of KEMU.

However, official sources say that the proposal was made to remove the complex administrative flaws in running the affairs of NSMC -- it was declared a constituent of the UoG but was affiliated with the UHS.

Though the NSMC has been a constituent college of UoG, but all the funds for operations, land acquisition, construction of buildings and all kinds of procurement were provided by the health department. The college has also never been assigned a regular principal and was being headed by an acting principal appointed by the UoG vice chancellor.

Moreover, the college’s ABSTH has not been under the control of the college principal, but a medical superintendent under the direct control of the health department causing procedural problems for the ABSTH and NSMC administration as well as the students and faculty members of the college.

Mr Aqeel further said that the UoG was also of the view that the teaching hospital’s administrative control should be handed over to the NSMC principal to overcome the problems and the varsity’s proposal had been forwarded to the authorities concerned.

He also said the UoG had told the authorities concerned that the proposal for attachment of NSMC with the KEMU would be discussed in the next syndicate meeting wherein the varsity needed more clarification on the proposal.

A senior officer said that it was clear from the proposal that the government wanted to change the status of NSMC from a constituent college of UoG to make it part of the prestigious KEMU, which would also uplift the college’s position among public sector medical colleges.

He added that even Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had issued directions to the health, higher education and law departments of the province during an assembly session a few months ago to separate the NSMC from UoG. There had been no meeting of the syndicate during the last one year as the varsity administration wanted to prolong its control over the college over one pretext or the other, he added.

The health department has recommended the separation of NSMC from UoG and its attachment with KEMU whereas the Sargodha Medical College’s attachment with Faisalabad Medical University was also proposed by separating it from the University of Sargodha. Unlike the NSMC, the Sargodha college was entirely established with the resources of the UoS, said an official privy to the matter.

admissions: The University of Gujrat (UoG) has started receiving applications for admission to various courses and undergraduate programmes, according to a press release issued by the university.

The applications can only be sent online and will be received till July 19.

Barring a few reserved seats, all the admissions will be on open merit. To be considered eligible for reserved regional quota seats, candidates must submit required documents along with their applications the details of which are explained in the admission policy.

Admission Help Centres have been set up at Hafiz Hayat Campus, City Campus GT Road, City Campus Marghzar Colony and City Campus Fatima Jinnah Gujrat.

Intermediate students awaiting their second-year results can also apply for admission on the basis of their first-year results.

The UoG online admission policy ensures strict implementation of merit. The application fee can be deposited through a computerised challan form to any branch of Habib Bank Limited. The form can be downloaded from the UoG website.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019

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