UVAS syndicate approves budget of Rs3.97 billion

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

LAHORE: The syndicate at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) approved a budget of Rs3.97 billion for the financial year 2018-19 on Tuesday.

Chairing the 55th syndicate meeting, UVAS Vice-Chancellor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that the focus was on applied research and development projects in order to further improve the quality of education, research and services at the varsity.

“The estimated monetary worth of the 105 ongoing research projects is Rs1.262 billion,” he stated. “Out of the total money allocated, Rs2.08 billion will be spent on ongoing projects while Rs255 million will be spent on developing new projects,” he added.



Work on the project titled “Livestock Sector Development Through Capacity Building Allied Research and Technology Transfer” will begin this year for which Rs200 million had been allocated. The Higher Education Commission of Pakistan is funding this project, he maintained.

In addition to this, Rs55 million had been set aside for another project titled “Production Enhancement of Livestock Through Extension Services and Technology Transfer” which the Punjab government will be funding, the VC said.

Among the ongoing projects, Rs600 million and Rs145 million had been allocated for enhancing research facilities and for setting up a biologics training centre at UVAS Ravi Campus in Pattoki. Meanwhile, Rs1.2 billion will be used for research facilities at the Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Bahawalpur.

Also, Rs85 million will be used for in-service training facilities for advanced veterinary education and professional development for veterinary professionals, while Rs30 million has been allocated for an export facilitation centre for livestock and poultry industry (EFCLP) at UVAS Lahore. Around Rs15.15 million have also been set aside for the development of camel milk value chain by adopting modern supply chain mechanism in order to enhance farmer’s profits.

Earlier, while presenting the budget before the syndicate, UVAS Treasurer Dr Zubair Farooq said that the varsity expects non-development income of Rs1.568 billion for the current year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2018.