LAHORE: Grant promised by the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani last year at the 8th convocation of Government College University (GCU) Lahore for development works at GCU has not been sanctioned yet, while the 9th convocation is scheduled to be held on Friday.
Gillani who is also a former GCU student is not available this year at the convocation. GCU faculty members taunted that not only they will miss the prime minister but the walls and corridors of the 133-year-old building and the 119-year-old Iqbal Hostel will also miss him, whom renovations he promised.
GCU sources said development work and renovation of the old building could not start because of absence of the grant that Gillani announced last year. This year at the 9th convocation Governor Punjab Salmaan Taseer is due as the chief guest, while the faculty and students, concerned about the promised grant, were waiting for the prime minister to arrive.
Gilani has announced Rs 110 million for GCU, which include Rs 100 million for varsity’s development projects and 10 million for the GCU Endowment Fund. Last year on the convocation, Gillani stressed that, as an Old Ravian, he was concerned about the development works at GCU and appreciated the varsity’s progress in the field of research.
A GCU faculty member, seeking anonymity, said, “It is tragic that the renovation of old building and Iqbal Hostel had not started. Teachers and Ravians were happy that the development works will start after the PM promised grant.
Allama Iqbal resided at the Iqbal Hostel during his stay at GCU and it is an historic place that needs to be preserved. We were planning to question PM about the promised grant but he is not coming.”
He said that GCU’s faculty was tense over administrative issues and they wrote to the chancellor about the registrar as well. He said, “There were so many things that needed PM’s attention but he is not available.” A GCU official said the grant was in process as they had completed paper work, but he still could not say if it
will be made available or not. He said, “PM should understand that restoration of the old building was not a political project and such paper promises are not affordable in education institutions. GCU’s old building has a charm for all those foreigners who visit the college and they too have showed concerns about its horrible condition.
It is tragic that all big names in the country’s politics including the PM and PML (N) Chief Nawaz Sharif, who are Old Ravians, are not concerned about their own college.” He said it was the duty of the GCU Vive Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Aftab and the former GCU registrar Faisal Khurshid to pursue the matter but they followed their own vested interests.
