SAHIWAL: Governor Chaudhry Sarwar expressed surprise on finding out that the University of Sahiwal has not received any funds from the Punjab government since its inception in 2014.

This was told to the governor in a meeting in Lahore on Saturday with the newly appointed university Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Muhammad Nasir Iqbal.

Talking to this correspondent at his office about the meeting, the VC claimed that the governor ordered the higher education department and Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) to prepare a comprehensive report in 15 days highlighting all financial constraints facing the university and release the required funds at the earliest.

He said he had told the governor that it had become difficult for the university administration to run its affairs and execute extension projects worth Rs1 billion because of financial constraints and non-availability of funds.

He further told the governor that the university had been created under a provincial government act, but since its inception the government had not provided it any funds. The university does not even have its own account with the Punjab Accountant General and local accounts office. From 2015 to 2018, the university was running without permanent administrative and academic staff, including registrar, controller, professors and associate professors, he added.

The VC further claimed that the governor had assured him that soon a budget would be allocated and funds released. Due to lack of funds, no daily-wagers and faculty could be recruited, which was hampering academic activities.

The governor has called a follow-up meeting on the issue with the VC and officials of the higher education department on Wednesday in Chichawatni.

CHRISTMAS ASSISTANCE: The provincial government has provided financial assistance worth Rs5,000 each to more than 200 deserving Christians on the eve of Christmas.

The assistance was provided to the poor among the community. The cheques were handed over by Punjab Minister for Agriculture Nauman Langriyal at the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on Monday.

DC Muhammad Zaman Wattoo, Bishop of Sahiwal Ibrahim Danial and minority rights activist Dilber Jani were also present on the occasion.

The minister said that minorities had always played a pivotal role in the development of Pakistan and it was the state’s responsibility to award grants to the most deserving citizens. He said the provincial government was working hard to provide development funds to minorities in each district so that need-based development projects could be initiated. For this purpose, the district government will work with minority stakeholders and identify development schemes.

He also congratulated the Christian community on Christmas.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2018