KARACHI, March 15: The syndicate of the University of Karachi on Saturday observed that the KESC should provide electricity to the campus on a subsidized rate, said sources.

The meeting also formed a committee, headed by MPA Faisal Sabzwari who has recently been nominated as member of the syndicate, to suggest measures for streamlining electricity usage on the campus. The committee was urged to move the government for provision of electricity to the campus under domestic tariff and not under commercial rates. The meeting was presided over by KU Vice-Chancellor Dr Zafar Saied Saify.

The syndicate members were informed that the university had also been paying for what it did not consume. In a report, the finance and planning committee had pointed out that there was no control over utility charges and the university should recover the amount from those who did not pay for the utility directly.

However, some of the members opposed the idea of installing meters at the residential blocks and various institutes. The university spent Rs43.331 million on electricity during the year 2001-2002, while for the year 2002-2003 it anticipates to spend another Rs43 million.

The university pays the total substation bill set up on the campus which ultimately leads to an extraordinary increase in the utility charges. The additional and unjust burden on the KU exchequer due to application of commercial tariff was needed to be checked, said a source.

Taking up another recommendation of the finance committee pertaining to withdrawal of leave encashment facility, the members resolved that the earlier decision of the senate on the subject should be implemented. Under the senate resolution, any staff with at least ten years of job and having more than 90 days’ accumulated leave is entitled to encashment.

The syndicate also not agreeing with the finance committee’s proposals on medical allowance and rationalization of teaching cadre strength, constituted two separate committees on the matters.

The special meeting of the syndicate was adjourned till March 24 when budgetary proposals as well as other business of the university would be dealt with.