HYDERABAD, March 1: The senate of the Sindh Agriculture university, at a meeting on Wednesday, approved Rs564 million budget of the university for 2006-2007 showing a deficit of about Rs175 million.

The university expects to receive an annual grant of Rs175 million from the Higher Education Commission and generate Rs389 million from its own resources.

The budget includes provision for new expenditure on account of payment of increased salaries to staff as announced by the government and establishment of farmers’ advisory services, quality enhancement cell, student counselling cell and international faculty hostel.

The senate was informed that the HEC had allocated Rs44.634 million for recurring expenditure of the university, including Rs48.850 million for increase in salaries and Rs66.784 million to meet HEC quality criteria.

As an amount of Rs40.24 million is expected from the internal resources of university, thus total receipts are expected to be Rs484.874 million.

The senate also approved Rs61.307 million for recurring expenditure of the Z. A. Bhutto Agriculture College, Dokri, including provision for new expenditure on account of payment of increased salaries to staff.

The HEC has allocated Rs37.763 million for recurring expenditure of the college, including Rs4.924 million to meet HEC quality criteria and Rs3.593 million for increase in salary. An amount of Rs0.700 million is expected from internal resources of the college, thus total receipts are expected to be Rs38.463 million.

The position shows that recurring account of the university and the college would be in deficit to the tune of Rs79.413 million and Rs22.844 million, respectively, for which the HEC is being approached to seek additional funds.

The senate was informed about steps taken to strengthen the university in academic and other areas and pursue market-oriented programmes and policies.

It was informed that annual student enrolment in the university, which had touched all time low figures of 228 in 2002-03 and 324 in 2003-04, had tripled in 2006-07.

The senate was told that a career counselling and placement cell was being established to facilitate the students in seeking guidance and jobs.

The senate was told that PC-I for first phase of a mega project entitled "Strengthening and development of Sindh Agriculture University" had been approved by the HEC.

It was informed that more than a dozen projects with an estimated cost of over Rs300 million required funding through sponsoring agencies.