HYDERABAD, Jan 20: The University of Sindh authorities have requested the federal government to launch a shuttle train from Mirpurkhas to Jamshoro to facilitate students of Sindh, Liaquat and Mehran universities and people visiting Liaquat University Hospital.

This was said by the university’s Vice-Chancellor Mazharul Haq Siddiqi while taking to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) Senator Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro during his visit to the university. The senator told the vice-chancellor that the visit was aimed at ascertaining problems confronting the university.

Mr Siddiqui informed the senator about enrolment of students at graduate, postgraduate and MPhil and PhD programmes and briefed him about on-going construction and research projects at the campus.

The vice-chancellor said that a large number of students from Tharparkar and Mirpurkhas were facing transportation problem.

He said that the university was facing problem of shortage of houses for employees at the campus. He said that due to shortage of funds since 1988, no new residential quarter or bungalow had been constructed for the employees though the number of employees had increased by 100 per cent over the years.

He requested the senator to help in providing funds for the construction of houses for the teachers and employees.

The vice-chancellor said that human resource development for the university was essential and it was need of the time to provide resources to faculty to do PhD.

He said that many teachers after qualifying tests were waiting for funds to go abroad for PhD and added that due to deficit in annual budget of the university and reduction in its funds, the university was facing lot of problems.

Dr Soomro appreciated the university’s progress and promised that he would ask the education ministry to solve problems of the university and provide funds for faculty scholarships and construction of houses.

The senator also visited the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology.

WORKSHOP: Pakistan faces massive environmental pollution, particularly air and water, caused by increasing human pollution, industrial processes and agrochemicals, speakers said at a workshop on Monday.