LAHORE: The Punjab University Senate on Thursday approved recommendation of the syndicate regarding Rs9.39 billion budget for the fiscal year 2020-21.

Governor/Chancellor Chaudhry Sarwar had chaired the 355th meeting of the PU Senate through a video link and authorised Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad to conduct the meeting on his behalf.

PU Pro-VC Prof Dr Saleem Mazhar, Registrar Dr Khalid Khan and more than 150 members of the senate including deans of faculties, heads of departments and others participated in the meeting.

The VC said the administration was promoting research and academic culture on the campus and allocated Rs160.5 million for a research endowment fund.

The meeting approved recommendations of the syndicate regarding PU’s budget for the fi scal year 2020-2021 and the university would save Rs420m to cope with the defi cit by taking austerity measures.

MoU: Punjab University (PU) Institute of Quality and Technology Management and Faisalabad Industrial Estate Development and Management Company (FIEDMC) signed a memorandum of understanding to play its role in the industrial development of special economic zones being established in the second phase of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

PU VC Prof Niaz Ahmed said universities are the engines of economic growth and CPEC projects have a lot of potential for academia-industry linkage for socioeconomic development of the country.

He appreciated the Institute of Quality and Technology Management for conceptualisation of four state-of-the-art research centres. The centres related to standardisation, ergonomics, supply chain, project management and industrial policy analysis may change the industrial landscape of the country as envisioned in the long-term plan of CPEC.

FIEDMC Chairman Mian Kashif Ashfaque said Prime Minister Imran Khan has assured them of full support for the development of Allama Iqbal industrial zone in Faisalabad.

He said all necessary steps were being taken to convert this special economic zone into an economic hub.

VU TEACHERS: The Institute of Public Health (IPH) and the Virtual University (VU) are strengthening the ongoing cooperation between both the institutions by launching diploma courses/programme in different subjects of the public health.

The IPH will also share Covid-19 samples with VU Laboratory for research and study purpose, says a press release issued here on Thursday.

IPH Dean Prof Dr Zarfi shan Tahir said this after the visit of a delegation of VU teachers, headed by its Rector Dr Naeem Tariq. IPH Director Paramedical Dr Nadia and Course Coordinator Dr Ubaidullah Qazi were also present on the occasion.

Dr Zarfi shan Tahir informed that the experts would produce public service messages based on the precautionary measures and hygiene for creating awareness which would be disseminated through VU TV channels network.

IPH faculty members would also visit the Virtual University where a briefing would be given to them on the Learning Management System of the university, she concluded.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2020