A meeting of the Punjab University Syndicate, presided over by Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran, on Saturday approved Rs 6 billion budget for the year 2013-14.
The university expects a total grant of Rs 1.7 billion from the Higher Education Commission (HEC), 35 percent of its income. In the budget, the funds allocated for research have been increased from Rs 85 million to Rs 100 million, which is 1.5 percent of total budget. The syndicate approved the proposal of university authorities not to increase fee of on-campus students. The syndicate members praised the fact that Punjab University’s academic and hostel dues were far less than other public sector universities. The syndicate also praised the initiative taken by the VC to facilitate Baloch students by offering free education, free boarding facilities and Rs 3,000 stipend per month (each student) in the next year. Moreover, the university not only controlled deficit in budget 2012-13 but saved Rs 110 million from 2011-2012 which have been allocated to research endowment fund, which now has reached Rs 36 crore. The university has also set up a committee to generate funds for PU to facilitate research and development projects. It will be headed by Amna Imam, HEC additional secretary.
According to other salient features of the budget, special students will also be provided with free education along with boarding facilities while students taking admission on sports basis will be provided with free education. The university will continue to waive off tuition fee of Hafiz-e-Quran. Seed money of Rs 50 million has been allocated for the establishment of PU Medical and Dental College. The university has allocated Rs 75 million for overseas scholarships and Rs 36 million for national and international conferences. To facilitate students, the university is providing funds of Rs 93.677 million to its students in terms of scholarships, student affairs and career counseling and other activities. The PU is providing Rs 162 million hostel subsidy, Rs 59.144 million transport subsidy and Rs 13.73 internet subsidy to students. The net subsidy on the mentioned services amounts to Rs 224.96 million and in addition to above, subsidy on electricity in teaching departments is also being provided. The budget deficit is because of the subsidies provided by the PU to the indigent students.
