ISLAMABAD, Aug 30: Out of the total budgetary allocation of Rs255 million approved for Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) for the current financial year, a meagre amount of Rs21 million has been reserved under the head of the varsity’s development phase-III, sources told this reporter.

Quaid-i-Azam University has an opening balance of Rs3.09 million and the rest of the amount (Rs18.393 million) for the development projects will be provided by the federal government.

Of the Rs21 million, Rs10 million will be spent on construction work while the remaining amount will be consumed under other heads; scientific and health care equipment, furniture, books, journals and fellowships for M.Phil and PhD students.

An amount of Rs8 million and Rs2 million has been allocated for construction of staff residences and mosque respectively. However, no allocation has been made in the budget for academic blocks, construction of hostels and women gymnasium.

It may be recalled here that the construction of the women gymnasium had started in 1997, but till now has not been completed due to shortage of funds. This time again no amount has been fixed in the budget for the gymnasium.

As much as Rs4 million has been earmarked for the purchase of scientific and health care equipment while Rs3 million each have been fixed for the library and for fellowships of M.Phil and PhD students.