KARACHI, Aug 30: The Karachi University syndicate has approved the varsity's budget estimates for the fiscal year, 2004-05. A varsity spokesman said on Monday that the proposed budget was to the tune of Rs723.60 million.

The budget for laboratories, and that for the purchase of books and journals was increased, the spokesman added. The KU VC, Dr Pirzada Qasim, chaired the meeting, which also okayed the appointment of Prof Shahid Shaukat as chairman of Botany, Prof Rakhshanda Talat of Psychology and Prof Malahat Kaleem Sherwani as the chairman of Library and Information Science.

The syndicate also approved the elevation of Shamim Ara Siddiqui and Syed Mohammad Khalid, both from Microbiology, as professors and that of Talat Yasmin as associate professor.

It approved posting of Dr Mahmood Ghaznavi, Dr Fauzia Jafri and Dr Seemi Naghmani of Mass Communications department as professors. The setting up of the legal section of the varsity was also approved.

It was also decided to create the posts of senior accountant, budget officer and accounts officer in the varsity. The meeting also reviewed the recommendations of the body set up to look into appointments made by the previous VC. -APP