Review meeting of HEC funded developmental projects
News Issue Date: 07.12.2008
Even if we have to stop other expenditures to facilitate our scholars pursuing PhDs in foreign universities, we must honour them and support them financially until they complete their studies. We will get bank loans to carry out our Human Resource Development program, if the federal government fails to help us.“ This was stated by VC NWFP UET Peshawar Engr. Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gilani, while chairing the review meeting of HEC funded developmental projects. In the backdrop of recent policy of federal government to cut down the higher education budget of universities, NWFP UET has devised its own policy to facilitate its scholars pursuing Ph.D in UK, Canada, Thailand, and USA. The university will get only 7.5% grant of the total developmental budget and 12% as recurrent grant in its 2nd quarter by the federal government.
Expressing his concern over the untenable treatment of government to public sector universities, he said, if the federal government does not listen to our problems, we are be bound to suffer the same fate as the public sector primary education. “Universities were mercifully keeping their heads above water, but if federal government does not revisit its policy, the ultimate sufferers will be the children of poor families, who are getting quality education on nominal fee structure from public sector universities“. “Our grant comes from federal government, which constitutes the 70% of our total annual budget, while 28% is generated on our own. In this situation we will be left with no option but to start a full-fledged self-finance system“, he added.
Giving review of development projects, Muhammad Sarwar Khan, Advisor Finance and Planning said that Jalozai Campus, was approved at the cost of Rs.6.56 billion, and the most affected component is HRD, under which 200 scholars have to be sent for PhD, but only 47 scholars to US universities have been sent, who are facing severe problems to meet their tuition and living expenses. Up till now, liabilities of Rs.20 million have been claimed against university by these scholars.
Projects which were completed and fully operational included Gemstone Development Cell, Institute of Mechatronics Engineering, Strengthening of Satellite Campuses, Establishment of Jalozai Campus, Strengthening of Earthquake Engineering Center, Continuing Engineering Education Center.
All development projects were commenced on time and monitored carefully under the supervision of HEC. The total cost of these projects is approximately Rs.9 billion. The meting was attended by all project directors and senior administrative staff.
