LARKANA, Dec 15: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad would chair meeting of senate of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SBBMU) at its proposed site on the Airport road on Dec 22. SBBMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Akbar Haidar Soomro told journalists here on Thursday the PC-I for SBBMU for Rs1 billion had been submitted to the Higher Education Commission after removal of objections.

Flanked by Registrar Dr Ammanulalh Jokhioy, Principal CMCH Prof Dr Asadullah Mahar and others the VC said that in the wake of recognition of 17 new departments by the PMDC to start postgraduate courses the number of seats had been increased to 200 from 50. He said the PMDC was contacted for starting evening classes in the medical colleges affiliated with SBBMU after raising seats by at least 50 more.

A team of PMDC would visit the institutions falling under the administrative control of SBBMU during the last week of December to assess the need for seats, he said.

He said the Bibi Asifa Bhutto Dental College would become operational with the first intake of 50 students in 2012 and classes in the Nursing College would start from March 2012.

Responding to a question about kidnapping of doctors, the VC said the incidents had severely affected medical institutions and hospitals.

He said that the doctors' concern had been conveyed to the governor and the on its part the SBBMU had worked out a security plan for doctors' protection. BB ANNIVERSARY:

A meeting to review arrangements to observe the 4th death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto on December 27 was held here on Thursday.

It was presided over by Commissioner Larkana Division Syed Asif Hyder Shah at Circuit House.

The Commissioner directed all federal, provincial and district heads posted in Larkana to complete the development works by December 24.

DIG Larkana Dr. Sain Rakhio Mirani and SSP Larkana Mazhar Nawaz Shaikh briefed the Commissioner regarding the security measures.