A hefty amount: Rs3.81 billion approved as UVAS annual budget

VC says focus is on applied research and development projects to improve quality of education

LAHORE: The University of Veterinary and Animal Science (UVAS) syndicate approved a budget of Rs3.81 billion for the financial year 2017-18 with focus on development, research and facility provision for quality education and services.

Chairing the 49th syndicate meeting, UVAS Vice Chancellor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said focus was on applied research and development projects to further improve the quality of education, research and services at the university. The value of the ongoing 86 research projects was Rs1.05 billion.

Health budget up by 80% in budget for fiscal year 2017-18

Dr Talat told the meeting that a hefty amount of Rs2.33 billion had been allocated for development projects. Of the total development allocation, he said Rs1.84 billion would be spent on the ongoing projects, while Rs490 million would be spent on the new projects to be initiated in financial year 2017-18. Work on National Livestock Technology Park at Ravi Campus Pattoki would begin this year for which Rs150 million had been allocated, he said.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) was funding the project and allocated Rs60 million for a new project titled In-service Training Facilities of Advanced Veterinary Education and Professional Development for Veterinary Professionals (Soft Component) funded by the Punjab government, he said.

An amount of Rs30 million had been allocated for the establishment of Export Facilitation Centre for Livestock & Poultry Industry (EFCLP) at UVAS City Campus and Rs250 million was allocated for the acquisition of land and upgrading Para-Veterinary School Narowal to College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, he added.

Among the ongoing projects, the vice chancellor said Rs200 million had been allocated for Enhancement of Research Facilities at Ravi Campus Pattoki, Rs1.23 billion for University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Bahawalpur, Rs53.63 million for Para-Veterinary School at Narowal, Rs159.55 million for New Academic Block, Students Hostels and Apartments for Faculty at City Campus, Rs113.41 million for Training Centre for Biologics at Ravi Campus Pattoki, Rs28.75 million for developing ostrich farming in Punjab, Rs22.03 million on Propagation of Ducks  Rearing and Rs30.29 million for the development of Camel Milk Value Chain in Punjab.

Dar unveils Budget 2017-18 with Rs4.75 trillion outlay

Earlier, while presenting the budget before the syndicate, Treasurer Dr Zubair Farooq said the university expected non-development income of Rs1.43 billion from different sources during the year, while non-development expenditure was expected at Rs1.48 billion, so there was a deficit of Rs50.57 million. The VC said Rs692.46 million was expected to be generated by the university from its own sources. He said there would be no increase in fees during the financial year.

About the deficit, he said the university would try to meet the budget deficit by generating more income from its own resources, by increasing its research-based products, diagnostic and clinical services for stakeholders.

“Special austerity measures would also be adopted to limit the recurring expenditure within available funds, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2017.