Money matters: Syndicate approves UVAS budget

Research, development projects and university services have been prioritised

LAHORE: The University of Veterinary and Animal Science (UVAS) syndicate on Wednesday approved a Rs3.02 billion budget for the university.

Chairing the 44th syndicate meeting, UVAS Vice Chancellor Talat Naseer Pasha said research, development projects and university services had been prioritised.

He told the meeting Rs1,624.7 million had been allocated for development projects. He said Rs400 million would be spent on enhancement of research facilities at Ravi Campus in Pattoki, Rs88.650 million on the Para-Veterinary School in Narowal and Rs847.7 million on University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in Bahawalpur.

He said Rs377 million had been allocated for two new development projects; Rs200 million would be spent on a new academic block, hostels for students and apartments for faculty at the City Campus and Rs177 million would be spent on the establishment of a training centre for biologics at Ravi Campus Pattoki.

The vice chancellor said that the scholarship budget for students had also been raised to Rs37.96 million from Rs32.47 million.

The vice chancellor said that the faculty members were contributing to the university income through competitive research grants.

“Currently, there are 81 research projects of Rs879.23 million being executed by faculty members who secured the funds from national and international donor agencies,” he said.

The syndicate approved some new undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes.

Approvals for house requisition facilities for employees of grade 1 to 4 and medical facilities for all lower grade employees were also granted in the meeting.

Earlier, presenting the budget before the syndicate, UVAS Treasurer Muhammad Aslam Pervaiz said that the university expected an income of Rs1,338.618 from various sources, including 48 per cent (Rs639.511 million) from its own resources, 46 per cent (Rs617.915 million) from the Higher Education Commission and six per cent (Rs79.914 million) from the Punjab government.

He said that non-development expenditures were estimated at Rs1,377.364 million. He said there was a deficit of Rs38.746 million.

The vice chancellor said that the university would try to meet the budget deficit by generating more income from its own resources.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30^th, 2016.