Uplift initiatives at KU, JSMU, SZABUL facing delays for years

Just 25% development projects being executed at most public varsities, Khuhro told

KARACHI:

Development initiatives at the University of Karachi (KU), Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University of Law (SZABUL), remain in limbo for the past several years, despite the release of funds for uplift work, it emerged during a meeting chaired by advisor to the Sindh chief minister on universities and boards Nisar Khuhro on Monday.

The meeting was called to discuss development work at public universities.

According to Khuhro's spokesperson, the CM's aide censured the relevant departments at the meeting when he was informed that most university administrations had only been able to work on 25 per cent of development initiatives at the respective institutions.

JSMU

With regards to JSMU, the meeting was told that the construction of a girls' hostel and the expansion of an academic block had been facing delays.

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The government allocated Rs130 million this year for an uplift scheme for the varsity, of which Rs30 million has been released thus far, but no progress has been made with regards to its execution, the meeting was informed. Besides, the university administration hasn't even opened a separate bank account for the project. The total cost of the scheme was estimated at Rs791 million in 2015.

Irked by the information, Khuhro remarked that if the varsity was unable to even open a separate bank account, then the funds may well be transferred to another university.

According to sources in JSMU, the varsity's vice-chancellor (VC), Dr Tariq Rafi, didn't have a defence when asked about the delays in the project at the meeting.

The Express Tribune tried to contact Dr Rafi multiple times for his stance on the matter, but he couldn't be reached.

KU

On delays in development work at the KU, Khuhro was informed that the setting up of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair and Convention Centre at the varsity had been suspended, much to his dismay.

According to Khuhro's spokesperson, work on the scheme has been suspended since 2017.

When contacted, KU VC Khalid Mahmood Iraqi told The Express Tribune that the project was announced in 2012 and no funds were released for the scheme for the next two years. Following that, the chair's former director filed a lawsuit, challenging her removal as the head of the chair, he said, adding that later the university administration terminated the contract of the project consultant and a new consultant was yet to be appointed. He said the provincial planning and development department had been holding up the consultant's appointment.

Besides, Iraqi said the government had allocated Rs400 million for a sewerage system for the varsity. Subsequently, the government gave approval for the opening of an assignment account, following which the appointment of a consultant for the project was mulled. However, the provincial planning and development department has not selected a consultant, despite the university committee holding eight meetings for the purpose, he said.

According to the Universities and Boards Department spokesperson, Rs442 million was allocated for the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Chair and Convention Centre in 2014, when funds for the project were released for the first time. He maintained that the university administration had utilised Rs164 million from Rs177 million released until 2016 and the project's construction was suspended in 2017.

SZABUL

Besides the KU, the SZABUL administration also inadequately utilised development funds, the meeting was informed.

According to details shared during the meeting, the government has released Rs104 million for a Rs200-million project that covers the construction of an auditorium and improving facilities in classrooms at the SZABUL's city campus. However, the varsity has spent just Rs50 million of the released funds.

When asked who was responsible delays in development work at varsities, Khuhro's adviser maintained that the utilisaiton of uplift funds were to be spent by the varsities, implying that carrying out development work was universities' responsibility.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th, 2021.