KARACHI, Nov 16: The University of Karachi spends 1.5 per cent of its budget on books. No work has been undertaken over the past years to renovate the dilapidated buildings of departments of science and social sciences while research has become an uphill task as there has been no increase in allocation for running laboratories.

But, at the same time, the KU expenditures have increased 41 per cent in two years. Subsequently, the deficit has increased from Rs41 million to Rs599 million in two years and it will increase to Rs998 million if the prevailing financial crisis continues by next year.

These were some important points highlighted during a meeting of the university’s senate held on Friday. The senate session was held after a gap of three years, again without the chancellor, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

The meeting presided over by Prof Dr Mohammad Qaiser, the vice chancellor of the university, passed the Rs2,785.131 million budget for year 2012-13 as well the past budgets for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Briefing teachers about the financial constraints, KU director finance Qazi Zaffar Abbas said that the university’s total income for year 2011-12 was Rs1744m that included government grant of Rs1,057m and Rs582m which the university generated from its own resources. However, the amount of the expenditures was Rs2,343m that brought the deficit to Rs599m.

“For year 2012-13, the government (regular) grant is estimated to be Rs1,159m whereas an additional amount of Rs628m is committed for enhanced salaries and allowances.

“However, the expenditures for pay and allowances for the same year is Rs1,666m, pension Rs274m and utilities Rs365m. This brings the total amount to Rs2,785m and if other expenses are also included, the university’s deficit is expected to be around Rs998m,” he explained.

To a question, he said that the past deficit had been met through “internal borrowing” which, he pointed out, largely meant the income through the university’s evening programme.

Expenditures of the university, he said, were too high as compared to its income. The Higher Education Commission not only made no increase in allocation in order to adjust the difference of enhanced salaries and allowances, it was making cuts on its pledged funds.

Giving their comments, teachers blamed the past university administration for the university’s financial problems and said that it was the outcome of prolonged “mismanagement”.

They complained that though a number of new centres and institutes were set up over the past years, no money was spent on repair and maintenance of old buildings of departments or to improve transport system for students. The library had been neglected too, and no money had been allocated in this year’s budget for it up-gradation.

“The past administration had also set up a committee to help resolve financial issues but nothing came out of it. How will the university pay to the new appointees in financial crisis,” a teacher asked.

The vice chancellor in his speech said that the issue of financial constraints was being raised at all government levels and efforts were being made to address it. “We have sought the help of KU alumni and have also set up an endowment fund,” he informed the gathering.

The chief minister, he said, had agreed to provide Rs280m each to four universities — Sindh University, Khairpur University, Sindh Agriculture university Tandojam and the KU.

Highlighting his achievements, Dr Qaiser said that 174 teachers had recently been appointed through selection boards, sessions of the university’s statutory bodies were being regularly held and a number of students had been awarded PhD degrees.

The university, he said, would set up a medical college and introduce new courses to strengthen China-Pakistan academic links.