Annual grant: Rs747.8 million UHS budget approved

Rs300 million reserved for development of Kala Shah Kaku Campus

LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Board of Governors (BoG) has approved Rs747.83 million budget for the year 2015-16.

The 33rd meeting of the board was held on Saturday under Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Justice (r) Amir Raza Khan, Prof Malik Hussain, Prof Amer Aziz, UHS Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (r) Prof Muhammad Aslam and representatives of the provincial Health and Finance departments attended the meeting.

Rs58.5 million has been earmarked for research. Of this amount, Rs20 million has been allocated for scholarship grant; Rs5 million for purchasing chemicals, reagents, glassware and specialised kits; and Rs33 million for purchasing lab equipment. Rs500,000 will be spent on research surveys and exploratory operations.

A sum of Rs74.83 million has been reserved for operating expenses. These include Rs14.3 million for utilities; Rs8 million for communications; Rs10 million for printing and publications; Rs7 million for stationery; Rs1.2 million for advertisement and publicity; Rs5 million for books and periodicals; and Rs10.3 million for travel and transportation.

Rs185.35 million has been reserved for employees-related expenses. The board approved the 7.5 per cent ad hoc relief allowance announced by the government. Rs337.5 million will be spent on development activities, including Rs300 million for civil works at Kala Shah Kaku Campus; Rs33 million for purchasing machinery; and Rs4.5 million for furniture and fixtures.

The UHS will spend Rs95 million on holding examinations and Rs1 million on professional development of the medical faculty. Rs1.5 million has been approved for the introduction of new academic programmes during 2015-16.

The vice chancellor apprised the board of the progress last year, particularly work on the university’s Kala Shah Kaku Campus. He said that the university was among the country’s top universities according to the Higher Education Commission’s 2014 ranking.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2015.