LAHORE: The Punjab University Syndicate on Saturday decided ‘in principle’ to give its eight kanal of land near Chauburji for the Orange Line Metro Train project to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).

“The Syndicate, in today’s meeting presided over by Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran, has entertained the request of the LDA and decided in principle to hand it over the university’s eight kanals of land at Chauburgi for Orange Line project,” PU Additional Registrar Dr Kamran Abid told Dawn after the meeting.

He said the PU expected the Punjab government, in return, to provide funds for the university’s research endowment fund.

It is learnt that the university would also ask the LDA to resolve all its pending issues with it like construction of an overhead bridge at New Campus and issuance of a no objection certificate (NoC) to University Town-II.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) would also be signed with the LDA and Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) in this regard.

Dr Abid further said the College of Information Technology’s Principal Dr Mansoor Sarwar did not appear before the Syndicate in Saturday’s meeting for the third consecutive time on medical grounds.

“Dr Sarwar has been given a fair chance to defend the charges against him regarding his appointment and if he fails to appear in the next Syndicate meeting an ex-parte decision will be taken,” he said.

On the other hand, Dr Sarwar said: “The petition whose court order presented in the syndicate meeting about my appointment as professor and principal did not mention any wrongdoing on my part.”

The Syndicate also unanimously endorsed the orders of removal of Dr Amtul Jamil Sami from the directorship of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology after hearing her and other faculty members of the department.

Dean Faculty of Life Sciences Prof Dr Naeem Khan, in his inquiry report, had recommended that she might be removed from directorship on her “failure and mismanagement” as director in running affairs of the institute.

“The VC had removed her from the post of directorship in the light of the inquiry report and today Syndicate endorsed his decision unanimously,” Dr Abid said.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2015