LAHORE, March 25: The Government College University syndicate on Tuesday approved the creation of a GCU Lahore Endowment Fund Trust and decided to send its draft to the Punjab Law Department for its whetting.
GCU’s second syndicate meeting chaired by vice-chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Aftab discussed the draft deed under the GCU Lahore Ordinance 2002, which was prepared by university’s legal adviser.
Sources told Dawn that some syndicate members objected that the draft prepared by university’s legal adviser must have been whetted by the Punjab Law Department to maintain transparency in future.
After a little discussion on the authority of the legal adviser and the law department, the sources claimed that the GCU VC agreed to send the draft to the law department for whetting.
It may be mentioned that Government College’s board of governors had decided in its 26th meeting held on June 12, 2001, to create an Endowment Fund Trust.
Accordingly, GCU VC Prof Aftab said university’s legal adviser had drafted the draft deed and presented it before the finance and planning committee for its consideration and approval for submission before the syndicate for final approval. The finance and planning committee in its Feb 22 meeting had approved the creation of the fund with two observations which were incorporated in the draft presented before the syndicate.
BUDGET: The sources said the syndicate approved university’s Rs177.65 million budget for the fiscal 2002-03, carrying a Rs9.23 million deficit. It also approved the revised budget of Rs155.82 million for the year 2001-02. Originally, the university had estimated to spend Rs169.8 million, some Rs13.99 million more than the actuals.
During the discussion, the sources said, a syndicate member, Mr Pervez Masud, raised an objection that the syndicate in its first meeting on Dec 31 last year had appointed him as a member of GCU’s finance and planning committee. But, he said, he was not invited to attend committee’s first meeting called on Feb 22 to finalize its recommendations for the approval of budget estimates for 2002-03 and the revised estimates for 2001-02.
They claimed that Mr Masud, the former Punjab chief secretary, said he had already sent some of his observations on committee’s recommendations. He, reportedly, again presented a copy of his observations to the syndicate.
The budget estimates for 2002-03 and the revised estimates for 2001-02 were, however, approved by the syndicate.
ADDITIONAL STAFF: The syndicate also agreed to university’s request to create additional posts —- staff officer to the VC, students counsellor (BPS-18), assistant curator (BPS-17) and a mason with a helper on fixed emoluments or daily wages to cope with the increased work and responsibilities after the elevation of the Government College to a university.
Statute: The GCU syndicate also recommended a statute for the appointment of visiting professors/teachers with higher qualifications and experience in the country or from abroad on a higher salary package.
The draft statute recommended by the syndicate will now be sent to the Chancellor/Punjab Governor for final approval.
SELF-SUPPORTING PROGRAMMES: The syndicate also approved the introduction of diploma/MSc in banking and finance and MSc industrial chemistry programme (evening) on a self-supporting basis.
It may be mentioned that GCU’s academic council had already approved both the new programmes on Feb 6 this year.
It is learnt that the GCU has decided to admit a maximum of 25 students to the two-year (four terms) diploma/MSc in banking and finance programme and 40 students to the two-year (four terms) MSc industrial chemistry programme.
According to the fee structure, each student will be required to pay Rs10,000 per term or Rs20,000 per year.
Each student will be required to pay admission fee of Rs500 for diploma/MSc in banking and finance and Rs2,500 for MSc industrial chemistry once at the time of admission.
The students of MSc industrial chemistry will also be required to pay Rs1,500 per student per year for science breakage fund.