PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Shah Farman on Monday directed the vice-chancellors of public sector universities to come up with a comprehensive plan for overcoming financial crisis in the universities.

The governor, who is also chancellor of the public sector universities, issued the directives while chairing a high level meeting of vice-chancellors of the universities in the provincial capital, according to a statement issued here.

The meeting held in Governors House discussed in detail the financial crisis faced by the universities.

The meeting was attended by the Principle Secretary to Governor Mohammad Idrees Khan, Higher Education Secretary Daud Khan, University of Peshawar Vice-chancellor Dr Mohammad Idrees, University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar Vice-chancellor Dr Iftikhar Hussain, Islamia College University Vice-chancellor Dr Gul Majeed Khan and others.

The governor directed the VCs to present comprehensive and long term suggestions to him in consultation with Higher Education Commission and provincial higher education department to solve the financial problems of the universities for good.

He said that that financial issues of the universities situated in Peshawar would be solved as a special case. He said that he would take up the issue of budget deficit in universities with the federal government after submission of proposal by the VCs.

Governor seeks details of Islamia College’s assets

During the meeting, the governor expressed concerns over financial crisis in Islamia College University and directed the authorities concerned to submit accurate details of the assets and land of Islamia College within week.

He said that it was strange that the historic Islamia College had properties worth billions of rupees despite that it was facing financial crisis. He said that he wanted to know the accurate properties of the Islamia College University and the way of their use.

The governor said that financial issues faced by the public sector universities would be solved permanently through comprehensive and workable strategy. He said that the case for provision of supplement grant to University of Peshawar would be discussed at relevant forums.

He said that being a chancellor, he was committed to bringing positive change in higher educational institutions in providing quality education to the young generation.

The governor said that few VCs were taking good decisions in the best interest of their institutions and students. He added the VC was a very responsible post and the responsible persons should take the responsibility in a real sense.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2021