KARACHI, June 29: The syndicate of the University of Karachi on Saturday approved the annual budget of the university for the new fiscal year with a total outlay of Rs606 million.

An amount of Rs25 million — 4.125 per cent of the total expenditures — has been earmarked for research and survey, while 48.78 per cent of the expenditures pertained to salaries and allowances.

According to sources privy to the meeting, the syndicate members referred to the expenditures incurred on the payment of overtime to staff, engaging staff on the daily wage basis, fuel and lubricants and medical bills and urged the university to curtail the same.

It was learnt that the syndicate also approved the revised budgetary estimates pertaining to 2001-2002. The university had to bear a deficit of about Rs70 million during the year.

The university expects a government grant of Rs385.4 million through the University Grants Commission for the new year, while the remaining Rs220.6 million would be earned in the shape of admission, tuition and examinations fees and other incomes.

The UGC has released an amount of Rs197 million for the year 2001-2002.

Though there was no clear discussion over any increase in tuition and examinations fees in the new fiscal year, it is expected that the university would go for a routine increase of 10 per cent in the tuition fees of students admitted to the university, said one member, adding that if the grants from the UGC were not allocated as per the university’s request the possibility of any further increase in tuition and examination and other fees recoverable from students could not be ruled out.

The syndicate meeting, which was presided over by vice- chancellor Dr Zafar Saied Saify, approved allocation of over Rs65 million for purchase/repair of chemicals, equipment and machinery, while Rs6 million were set aside for purchase of research journals and books.

The university made another allocation of Rs55.7 million for improvement of works pertaining to examinations. A proposal to change the name of the Department of Business Administration as the Karachi University Business School was also approved.

The syndicate decided to extend for four years the term of Dr Atta-ur-Rehman as director of the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry. It also acknowledged the efforts and interests of Dr Atta, who is the federal minister for science and technology, towards the provision of grant to the university, promotion of IT in the country and establishment of Umer Basha Institute of Computer Science.