PU Syndicate approves Rs 7.049 billion budget

Lahore: Punjab University Syndicate meeting, presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, on Saturday approved Rs 7.049 billion budget for the year 2015-16. The university expects a total grant of Rs 2.200 billion from Higher Education Commission, 37 percent of the total budget. To encourage research activities, the university has increased research grant from Rs 100 million to Rs 110 million, which is 1.6 percent of total budget.

The Syndicate approved the proposal of university authorities to not to increase tuition fee of on campus university students. During the meeting, PU Acting Treasurer Rao Muhammad Sharif presented comparison of fees being charged by all public sector universities in Punjab.

The Syndicate members lauded PU administration on charging the lowest fees from the students. Under the historical initiative taken by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, the university will continue to facilitate Balochistani students by offering free education, free boarding facilities and Rs 3,000 stipend per month (each student) to 208 students in the next year.

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. The university has allocated Rs 70 million for overseas scholarships and Rs 61.7 million for national and international conferences. In order to facilitate students, Punjab University is providing funds of Rs 96 million to its students in terms of scholarships, student affairs and career counseling and other activities.

Moreover, HEC scholarships worth 60 million rupees and PEEF scholarships will also be provided to students. Punjab University is providing Rs 166 million Hostel Subsidy, Rs 40 million Transport Subsidy and Rs 15 million Internet Subsidy to students. The net subsidy on the mentioned services has been increased from Rs 189 million to Rs 221 million and in addition to the above, subsidy on electricity in teaching departments is also being provided.

PU has allocated Rs 409 million for development projects. The Syndicate also decided remaining agenda items which could not be discussed in the previous meeting.