PU hefty budget for admin | PPSC discrimination

Punjab University teachers question hefty amounts for admin sections
Lahore, Mar 18: The Punjab University's newly-elected Academic Staff Association (ASA), expressing concern over various administrative measures, has questioned the bounty of million of rupees being offered to different sections of the university administration.

The issue was raised during a PUASA executive body meeting held recently while a resolution was also passed in this regard, demanding the university administration to immediately stop distribution of the bounty.

According to resolution of the meeting, copies of which were distributed among the faculty on Monday and Tuesday, the PUASA demanded the vice-chancellor that the bounty worth millions of rupees, being bestowed upon different sections of the administration out of self-supporting savings, be stopped immediately as the same was being distributed among the treasurer's office, the registrar's office and audit office without any cogent justification.

"The executive body also resolved that true accounts of the bounty be rendered before the community from 2005 to date," the copy reads.

The PUASA also forwarded a demand that the facilities over and above the entitlement of the university treasurer be checked, claiming that the said officer was enjoying facilities and amenities even not available to professors serving in BPS-21.

The sources alleged that the treasurer was given a 1,300cc car while an official Toyota van was being used by him for domestic purposes.

The association also expressed concerns over reluctance of the authorities to ensure implementation of teachers' legitimate demand of "One Man, One Post."

"It is not only a demand of the PUASA but a decision of the syndicate as well," the resolution reads, adding that "such reluctance had paved the way for dissatisfaction and frustration among different factions of the teaching community."

Quoting examples, a member of the PUASA, on condition of anonymity, said Prof Dr Javaid Ahmad was holding two different offices as he was the dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology as well as principal of university's College of Engineering and Emerging Technologies. Similarly, the PUASA member added, Prof Dr M Jamshaid was the dean Faculty of Pharmacy as well as the principal of the College of Pharmacy.

Another concern highlighted by the PU faculty members was about hindrances in vertical mobility of different cadres in the teachers' promotion cases for the posts of professors and associate professors.

"This needs particular attention in case of the University Law College and the Institute of Education and Research as inordinate delay has been observed in these by the university administration," the PUASA resolution reads, adding: "It is therefore demanded that all cases of promotion be processed transparently and promptly so that frustration caused thereby be eliminated and teachers may concentrate on their primary duty of teaching and research."

The PUASA demanded that maximum number of eligible teachers be accommodated in various committees, saying senior most members should head the committees.

The association also expressed concerns over the interference of student "culprits" in teachers' affairs maintaining that it was growing day by day.

"It is demanded that such culprits and their patrons be brought to book and administration should establish its writ so that a sense of security be evident on campus," the resolution reads.

PU Treasurer Amjad Saleemi said bills of some teachers were pending with his office which could not be cleared because of legal implications, alleging that the same teachers were propagating baseless material against him and his office.

To a question, he said the treasurer was entitled to have an official vehicle.

PU Registrar Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem Khan said the university's syndicate as well as finance and planning committee had allowed offices of registrar, treasurer and audit to receive remuneration for evening shift programmes and self-supporting programmes, etc as the staff had to work after the office hours.

"It is not consistence and regular," he said, adding: "A meager amount is received by those who perform duties."

To a question, Dr Khan said a BPS-17 officer received around Rs1,200 per month under this head, adding that receiving million of rupees for this service was out of question.

Talking about the PUASA resolution, he said: "We do honour suggestions of our teachers."

He said teachers had been demanding implementation of "One Man One Post" decision, adding that it was only because of this step that Dr Mugheesuddin Sheikh, who was Dean Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Director of Institute of Communication Studies (ICS), was relieved from directorship of the institute on Tuesday. The News

PU bags top five spots at Olympiad Moot Court
Lahore: Three teams from the Punjab University (PU) Law College set a new record by clinching the top 5 positions at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Olympiad Law Moot Court 2009.

PU Law College Principal Shazia Qureshi told the media on Tuesday that the teams were led by Hassan Sajjad Naqvi, a 7th semester LLB (Hons) student. The team securing the 1st position consisted of Zainab Ranjha, Abeer Javaid, Sana Waheed and Danish Maqsood.

The PU principal, Law Moot Society in charge, Farooq Umair Niazi and Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chaudhary Ijaz coached and supervised the teams.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Kamran Mujahid congratulated the students for bagging the top 5 positions in the Law Moot Court from a prestigious university of the private sector, which speaks of the high standard of education at PU and the talent of the students.

PU VC chairs Deans Committee meeting
Lahore: Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor Prof Kamran Mujahid chaired a meeting of the Deans Committee at New Campus on Tuesday.

The meeting offered 'fateha' for the departed soul of former PU Oriental College principal and Government College University (GCU) Arts Department dean Prof Sohail Ahmad Khan, and paid homage to his academic and teaching services.

On another note, Mujahid directed the 'Book Fair 2009' sub-committee conveners to hold a meeting and help the administration in organising the fair. He instructed them to ensure full participation of the students in the committees. The PU would organise the book fair next month.

Meanwhile, a PU spokesman said the Pakistan government had awarded three PU faculty members with the 'Seerat Award'. App

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Ahsan Naz new PU ICS director
Lahore: Punjab University (PU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Mujahid Kamran on Tuesday appointed Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz as director of the Institute of Communication Studies (ICS).

According to an ICS press release, Naz has been associated with the PU for the last 20 years, while he has been linked to the ICS for the last 16 years. Naz had also been the PU Public Relations Department head. He was awarded a PhD for conducting research on the 'Role of Progressive Movement in Pakistani Journalism' in 2000 and completed his post-doctorate from Germany in 2007.

Naz has authored five books on journalism while 15 of his research papers have appeared in different international research journals. He contributes a regular column on different social issues in different newspapers.

PU Behavioural Sciences Dean Dr Mugheesud Din Sheikh congratulated Naz over his appointment as ICS director. Sheikh was of the view that Naz would steer the department clear of the future challenges by merging the most important segment of the social sciences.

Naz appreciated Sheikh's contribution in developing the ICS as a true seat of learning of an international standard. Naz hoped that Sheikh would continue to contribute in the development of this institution. Daily Times

CPSP to send first batch of fellows to Saudi Arabia
Lahore: The College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) will send its first batch of 24 fellows to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, according to CPSP council principal Prof Zafarullah Chaudhry.

The move follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding with King Faisal Medical City Riyadh last year. The delegation, which will depart from Karachi, consists of some who have completed their Fellowship of College Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) Part-I and others who have already completed a fellowship in one specialty and would like to do another. Each fellowship requires 4-7 years of training.

The salaries for the two batches are 10,000 Saudi riyals (about Rs214,000) per month and 20,000 Saudi riyals (Rs418,000) per month, respectively, which will be paid by the Saudi government.

CPSP spokesman Nasir Khan said the college was making continuous moves for mobilising stronger relations with other countries like the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nepal, Bangladesh and others.

He said representatives of King Faisal Medical City had chosen Pakistani doctors over their Indian and Sri Lankan counterparts because the latter did not have Western accredited fellowships, whereas fellowships from CPSP were accredited in the UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia. Ten thousand doctors appear in FCPS-1 each year. Dawn

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PPSC female students discrimination
Lahore: The Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) has announced jobs for the post of District Wildlife Officers for appointment in the Department of Wildlife, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of the Punjab. The problem is that the right of job has been reserved only for men. Despite doing well in higher education, women are being deprived of government jobs like this without any sound reason. It is tantamount to discrimination against female population of the country.

Although the strength of female students is much more than the number of male students in virtually all universities of Pakistan as far as the courses of MSc Zoology are concerned, they are being ignored in jobs by the government. I request the authorities concerned to kindly provide equal opportunities to men and women and also allow the female candidates to apply for the posts of District Wildlife Officers in the Department of Wildlife, Forestry and Fisheries, Government of the Punjab. -FEHMEEDA BIBI, Lahore, via e-mail (The Nation)

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