The government is working on a commercial policy for universities to make them self-sufficient. This was revealed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, which met with Mushtaq Ahmad Khan in the chair.
The HEC is likely to approve the policy by the end of the current month.
The committee was briefed on the financial constraints faced by COMSATS and other universities as well as problems being faced by the administration and students due to the shortage of funds, and on virtual campus regulations.
Rs. 500 Million Pending Dues for COMSATS University?
The Workers Welfare Board also briefed on the non-clearance of Rs. 500 million dues to COMSATS University.
The Secretary Workers Welfare Board informed the committee that a breakup was taken from COMSATS University according to which the Board had to pay Rs. 221 million. The federal government has given a cheque of Rs. 1.8 million to the university. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has assured of giving Rs. 63 million within a week.
Punjab province has stated that they have given tuition fee and the remaining amount is Rs. 130 million, not Rs. 500 million.
He further said that the university has increased hostel and transport charges. Due to the absence of a governing body for the last one year, an unapproved payment could not be made. The governing body will be set up in the current month.
Rector COMSATS University said that 1,701 students of the workers welfare organization are getting free education.
Their transport and hostel charges are also being paid by the university, which are Rs. 267 million. Up till now, Rs. 1.3 billion has been spent and has resulted in the Lahore Campus posting losses.
Replying to the chairman committee’s question, the body was informed when the university building was leased, it was included in the agreement.
Welfare Board officials said that some bills of the university have been paid while others are in the process of being paid.
The rector informed that the total strength of the university was 277 in 2,000, which at present is 36,000, while 66,000 students have already completed their education.
The institution has 8 research centers. The operating budget of the university was Rs. 64 million, which has now been increased to Rs. 8.3 billion.
The development budget from HEC has been stopped since 2008 and after a cut on the grants, they do not have funds to pay salaries for next month. He added that about 80% of the budget goes into salaries.
Due to the increase in inflation and salary bill, a total of Rs. 575 million difference occurred and resultantly one of the prime minister’s schemes was closed and rural students suffered badly.
The scholarships to students were reduced from Rs. 1 billion to Rs. 700 million, he said.
The committee chairman said that universities’ budget should not be decreased, otherwise they will also go on strike.
The committee recommended immediate assistance for universities.
It also expressed serious concerns over the increase in the use of drugs in universities.
Very disappointing to know that universities cannot become self sufficient in a country where citizens go all over the world to spend there own savings on education, interestingly these universities teach financial management, when their own financial performance is disgraceful.