ISLAMABAD, April 2: The government on Monday disbursed Rs1.1 billion endowment fund to eight public sector engineering and technology universities.

The Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) had failed to submit feasibility plan in time.

The funds, ranging from Rs55 million to Rs190 million, were allocated to the universities during a meeting presided over by Science and Technology Minister Dr Attaur Rehman. Vice-chancellors of the universities or their representatives attended the meeting.

A source told Dawn that Rs198 million out of Rs1,135 million had been allocated to the National University of Science and Technology; Rs195 million to UET, Lahore; Rs192.5 million to NEDUET, Karachi; Rs110 million each to Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad; UET, Taxila; and Mehran UET, Jamshoro; Rs165 million to NWFP UET, Peshawar; and Rs55 million to Quaid-i-Awam UET.

Under the project, each university will appoint a board of trustees, comprising six members. It will be headed by the VCs. The universities have been asked to nominate three members each.

From the ministry, two officials would be the ex-officio members of the board.

The minister directed that the nomination of the members should be completed within three days.