Spending on education: SALU receives cash infusion from the govt

CM Qaim Ali Shah approves the release of Rs320 million for the university.

SUKKUR: The cash-starved Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu), Khairpur, with the looming Rs220 million deficit, will breath a sigh of relief as Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah announced funds worth Rs320 million.

Shah was speaking on Sunday after having laid down foundation stones for the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Chair and the Date Palm Research Institute at Salu. The two projects cost an estimated Rs98 million. Shah also approved the establishment of a housing society for Salu employees inside the varsity’s premises.

The Sindh government spent Rs14 billion on education, while previous provincial governments had only spent Rs4 billion. “There is no dearth of merit in Sindh, as youngsters here have the potential and dedication [to succeed],” said Shah.

He added that the present government had established seven public universities in Sindh, and reopened 4,000 out of the 7,000 schools that were closed. The government also pays Rs3,400 stipend to poor female students, added Shah.

Salu vice chancellor Prof. Dr Parveen Shah  said that the financial crunch faced by the university meant that it had to borrow money to pay its employees. She appreciated the chief minister’s decision to release funds, and added that Salu had established a linkage programme with 10 Pakistani universities to promote academic and research activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2013.