Strong on subsidies: PU Syndicate approves Rs6.5 billion budget

Students admitted in sports category get full scholarship.

LAHORE:

The Punjab University Syndicate on Thursday approved a Rs6.46 billion budget for the year 2014-15.

The syndicate meeting was presided by Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran. The university expects a grant of Rs1.978 billion (35 per cent of the budget) from the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

The university has allocated Rs100 million for research – 1.6 per cent of the budget. The syndicate also approved a proposal to not increase fees for current university students.

The university decided to continue to facilitate students from Balochistan by offering them free education, boarding facilities and Rs3,000 stipend per month. Special students would be provided free education and boarding.

Students admitted in the sports category would get full scholarship. The university would continue to waive off tuition fees for Hafiz-e-Quran.

The university has allocated Rs75 million for scholarships for overseas students and Rs52 million for national and international conferences. In order to facilitate students, Punjab University has allocated Rs95 million for scholarships, student affairs, career counselling and other activities.

HEC scholarships worth Rs39 million and Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) scholarships will also be provided. The Punjab University has set aside Rs156 million as hostel subsidy, Rs49 million as transport subsidy and Rs16 million as Internet subsidy for students.

The total subsidy amounts to Rs189 million. The university would also subsidise electricity for teaching departments. The PU has allocated Rs377 million for development projects.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2014.