DERA GHAZI KHAN: The Ghazi University has been facing a financial and administrative deadlock for the past one year due to delay in the constitution of the new syndicate committee, which is the apex body to take important decisions regarding the institution.

Currently, less than 50 per cent of the sanctioned faculty strength is imparting education to some 12,000 students enrolled in 73 degree programmes of the varsity, which is far lower than the required number.

The fresh recruitment of teachers could not be made without the permission of the syndicate committee.

Similarly, a project of construction of the varsity’s hostels, modern post-graduate labs and classrooms, worth Rs1,640 million, approved in 2017, has been halted as contractors have left the work, demanding a revision of the cost estimate due to the manifold increase in the prices of construction materials. However, the revision of the project cost estimation requires nod of the syndicate.

Against the 300 sanctioned strength of the varsity’s faculty, it has only 156 teachers, including the visiting ones.

The university’s syndicate has not met for over a year, while it has been incomplete since the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, as it includes two provincial lawmakers, causing further delay in administrative and financial decisions concerning the institution.

Additionally, no deans have been appointed for the 73 departments of the university, which has resulted in delayed handling of departmental affairs.

The recommendations for amending the university act to facilitate the appointment of deans are currently awaiting approval of the governor and the Punjab government.

Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Kamran, who has recently taken charge of the varsity, says he has written an official letter to the Punjab Governor Dr Balighur Rehman, mentioning the issues faced by the varsity because of delay in the constitution of its syndicate.

He says efforts are being made to appoint new members to the syndicate committee to help address these issues.

He says recommendations to switch the university infrastructure to solar energy have also been sent to the relevant authorities as it needs to install a 2MW solar system under the Prime Minister’s scheme.

The VC hopes a favourable response from the authorities to the recommendations.

To overcome the faculty shortages, 120 visiting professors have been hired by the varsity, while new programmes are also being introduces.

Additionally, experimental cultivation of orange and olive plants is being carried out on 100 acres by the varsity for research purpose.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2023