LAHORE: The Punjab University Syndicate on Thursday approved Rs867.396 million deficit budget for the financial year 2014-15. The PU expects an income of Rs5.594 billion, while it plans to spend Rs6.461 billion.

In order to overcome the massive deficit, the Syndicate approved 10 per cent increase each in examination fee, registration fee and migration/degree/equivalence fee.

As the PU administration had this time organised the Syndicate meeting on Thursday instead of Saturday, Lahore High Court Judge Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqi, Punjab women welfare development department secretary Iram Bukhari and PEEF Vice-Chairman Dr Amjad Saqib could not attend it.

The Syndicate also reportedly confirmed the proceedings of two of its meetings -- 1707th and 1708th. The 1707th meeting was held on April 19. The agenda items of 1708th meeting were circulated among the members.

The proceedings of the 1708th meeting included the selection board recommendations wherein the name of vice-chancellor’s wife Dr Shazia Noreen Qureshi was proposed for appointment as associate professor of law at the PU Law College.

Two members -- Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Iram Bukhari -- had not given their opinion and the varsity administration had approved the selection board’s recommendations through a majority vote.

The PU spokesman, however, kept mum on Dr Shazia’s appointment matter in a news release issued on Thursday. When contacted, spokesman Khurrum Shahazad refused to comment on the subject.

The Syndicate also approved different anticipatory orders of the vice-chancellor.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2014