BAHAWALPUR: The Islamia University needs funds to execute its thee-year plan to achieve targets for academic and infrastructure progress.

Admitting 20,000 students annually, building infrastructure for departments and student hostels are some of the highlights of the plan.

Talking to Dawn, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Athar Mehboob said the IUB was about to complete the process of admitting 12,000 students this year, as compared to last year’s 8,000. They include 1,500 students for M. Phil and Ph.D studies.

Prof Mehboob said the number of applicants seeking admission to the IUB this year was over 87,000 which was a pleasant surprise for the administration. He said academic activities would resume on Oct 5 amid strict corona SOPs.

Answering a question, the VC said faculty was being hired as well to meet the demand of increase in students’ number. He said a number of new departments and subjects had been introduced to meet present needs.

The VC said the plan approved by the IUB syndicate envisaged construction of five buildings of the departments of law, veterinary, social sciences and others. Each of the building stretching on an area of 125,000 square feet would cost Rs 500 million. Six new hostel buildings having capacity to house 1,200 students would be completed within a three years’ period.

To a question, Prof Mehboob said the HEC had sanctioned Rs 1400 million as recurring grant for the university, which needed more funds for its upcoming projects. He urged the HEC and the federal minister for higher education and professional training to increase IUB’s annual financial grant.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2020