Punjab University treasurer repatriation issue

PU treasurer repatriation raises eyebrows
Lahore, May 19: The Governor's Secretariat has expressed concerns over Services & General Administration Department's alleged unilateral decision of repatriating the services of Punjab University (PU) Treasurer before the expiry of his three-year deputation tenure.

It has also asked the Punjab government and the PU vice-chancellor to examine the matter and submit a summary in this regard.

According to a document available with The News, the Governor's Secretariat contested that the appointment of Amjad Saleemi, a BS-19 officer of Provincial Treasury and Accounts Service as PU Treasurer was made on approval of competent authority i.e Governor/Chancellor while Service & General Administration Department (S&GAD) Punjab unilaterally repatriated the services of the said official before expiry of his tenure allegedly without approval of the competent authority.

Political analysts as well as some PU teachers see the recent development as part of ongoing confrontation between Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Governor Salman Taseer.

It is pertinent to mention that, in recent past, the Punjab government had cried foul over various appointments at public sector universities by the governor/chancellor and expressed strong concerns maintaining that advice of the CM was not sought in different cases of appointment.

As per the document, the Governor's Secretariat has also expressed concern over the PU vice-chancellor's act of relieving the treasurer and assigning the charge of the office to Dr Uzma Ikram, Additional Treasurer, without the approval of the governor/chancellor.

It reads "Section 18 of the University of the Punjab Act, 1973 provides that the Treasurer shall be a whole time officer of the university and shall be appointed by the chancellor on such terms and conditions as the chancellor may determine. Accordingly, the powers to appoint and transfer the treasurer vest with the governor/ chancellor. Therefore, orders regarding repatriation of services of Amjad Saleemi, issued by S&GAD, before completion of his tenure of deputation, his reliving by the PU vice Chancellor and assigning the charge of the post of Treasurer to Additional Treasurer, without approval of the governor/chancellor/competent authority are not covered under the law."

Amjad Saleemi, a BS-19 officer of Provincial Treasury and Accounts Service, was posted as Treasurer in the Punjab University on deputation basis for a period of three years vide S&GAD's notification No.SOEI-1-14/ 2006 (C) dated 11.08.2008 with the approval of the Governor/Chancellor (competent authority) with the approval of the Governor/Chancellor (competent authority) vide letter No. GS (UNIV) 2-11/2001-519 dated 24.06.2008.

Sources in the Punjab University said the treasurer was repatriated under mysterious circumstances and the move had raised many eyebrows within the varsity circles.

They said PU VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran had recently formed a number of committees to probe into alleged financial irregularities in connection with construction of IT Centre at New Campus, civil works at the Department of Space Science and provision of sports facilities at the university.

They added a heated debate was on among the faculty members and varsity officials that the repatriation of the Treasurer might be linked to these initiatives of the vice-chancellor. When contacted, a PU official claimed that, as per the terms and conditions of the Treasurer's appointment, the Punjab government reserved the right to withdraw/ transfer him at any time without assigning any reason. He said the university had already submitted reply to the Governorís Secretariat in this regard.

He also confirmed that the probe was being conducted into alleged financial irregularities, adding the responsibility was yet to be fixed. He claimed that terms and conditions were determined by the Punjab government.

Well informed sources in the Punjab Higher Education Department said that even when S&GAD wanted to repatriate the services it was binding on the department to seek approval of the governor/chancellor.

Interestingly according to the Section 18 of the University of the Punjab Act, 1973 terms and conditions of appointment of Treasurer are determined by the chancellor/governor.

The News could not reach Secretary (Services) S&GAD Jalal Sikandar Sultan for comments despite several attempts on his cell phone. This correspondent also visited his office on Tuesday, left a message for him and later sent him an SMS but the public servantí did not bother to contact and talk the issue over.

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PU results
Lahore: The Punjab University (PU) Examinations Department on Tuesday announced the results of various examinations. These exams included MA Economics, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MA Political Science, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MA Islamic Studies, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MA Arabic, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MA Physical Education, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MSc Physics, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MSc Chemistry, Part-II, Supplementary Examination 2009, MA Sociology (Regular), Semester System, Session 2003-2005, MA Sociology (Replica), Semester System, Session 2003-2005, and MA Sociology (Replica), Semester System, Session 2004-2006. The news

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VAT to jeopardise education sector
LAHORE - Planning inconsistencies and managerial changes in each government have badly affected our educational system and irregularity as well as absence of accountability in government sector is major hurdle in promoting quality education in the country.

Prof Monaza Parveen, Principal Leadership College for Girls, New Garden Town and Prof Rafaqat Ullah Khan, Principal Leadership College for Boys, Shadbagh expressed these views on Tuesday.

They said private educational institutions have a strict system of check and balance, which is the major reason for their success. They said imposition of Value Added Tax by the government is likely to collapse this system as education sector was already paying 15 taxes of different natures.

Prof Monaza Parveen said our government should priorities education sector, as it is the only sector, which could produce torchbearers for our nation. "Leadership's team visits government's schools, conducts surveys and selects the needy students to provide them free of cost education," Monaza added.

She said atmosphere in any educational institution played major role in polishing students' skills besides framing them into shining stars. Monaza was of the view that Leadership group of colleges have effective system of conducting weekly and monthly tests, which is giving marvelous outcome. She said the parents should give proper attention towards the productive nourishment of their children, otherwise, a generation might be spoiled if the issue was not tackled in proper time.
Prof Rafaqat Ullah Khan, however, said lack of funds, inconsistency of planning and internal management's altercations were destructive for our educational system. "If private sector can run institutions effectively then how it's impossible for the government? Actually each government brings its own education policy and never takes keen interest to run the previous ones," he added.

He said Leadership group was running various campus for boys and girls in different districts of the Punjab including Lahore, Multan, Sialkot and Rawalpindi. He said vast communication gap among teachers, students and parents is quite harmful.

"Teaching is a noble profession but materialistic approach of some teachers owing to commercialism has badly affected this occupation," he commented.

He said having nominal fees-system Leadership group is doing the best, as more than 5000 students are being provided quality education in different colleges across the Punjab.

He said, "we also award mega prizes to our shining students as a car was given to an old Leadership's student Mehwish Nadeem, who recently has topped in BSC, Department of Computer Sciences in Punjab University".

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Edu Dept starts consultations with principals, academicians
Lahore: The higher education wing of Punjab education department has started consultation on the implementation of four-year BS (Hons) programme in government colleges in the Punjab. For this purpose an important meeting of department officials with the principals and academicians was held under the chairmanship of Secretary Higher Education Ahad Cheema at Civil Secretariat Tuesday for a sure take off.

The BS (Hons) leading to MS (Hons) to complete the 18 years degree programme was enshrined in Higher Education Commission plans at the universities as far back as in the year 2000. A number of public sector universities and autonomous colleges gradually introduced this programme under the assistance of HEC along with the existing two years graduation programme to provide exit to the students after two years studies.

Later this programme was extended to the colleges through respective provincial governments.

Initially it was meant for 20 selected postgraduate colleges and centres of excellence in the province. Recently, however, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while deliberating the issue at a 4-hour marathon session with the officials of education department decided to introduce the programme in one boys and girls college in each district at least in one or two subjects.

A number of colleges have already given their consent to start the programme. The BS (Hons) in limited subjects and institutions is likely to start from the coming session 2010-11 from September 1.

The BS (Hons) will be introduced in commerce, arts and science subjects for which facilities of laboratories, libraries and faculty would be strengthened. However, it has to be seen whether this programme would be based on semester or annual system and what would be mode of examination?

The principals and their staff were also asked to observe the office timings even during the summer vacations, improve the pedagogy, punctuality, strict observance of time table and to make efforts to improve the pass percentage of students in various examinations. The nation

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Punjab Teachers protest rally on 21st
Lahore: Punjab Teachers Union (PTU) has announced a protest rally in connection with schoolteachers' demands on May 21. In a press statement, PTU Central President Ghulam Mohiuddin and other office-bearers said the rally would be taken out from Masjid-e-Shuhada to Punjab Assembly at every cost on 21st to press the government for several demands of teachers, which include 100 per cent increase in salaries, health insurance instead of medical allowance, regular scales for MA/BEd PSTs 14, 16 for ESTs and 17 for all SSTs and award of seniority from date of appointments to those teachers who services have been regularized.

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GCU training
Lahore: A maiden training programme at the Government College University's Continuous Professional Development Centre (CPDC) was inaugurated on Tuesday. As many as 35 teachers from GCU and other universities are taking part in the training programme spread over 24 days/70 sessions. The teachers will be trained in Planning and Management Skills, Classroom and Time Management, Pluralism, Passion for Teaching, Fostering Networks for Academic Sharing, Microteaching, Course Designing. The news

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LCWU celebrates FM 96.6 anniversary
Lahore: The first anniversary of Radio Channel FM 96.6 of Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) was celebrated under the auspices of Mass Communication Department.

Education Minister Mujtaba Shuja–ur-Rehman was the chief guest while Vice Chancellor Dr Bushra Mateen presided over the function. The minister visited the FM channel, TV studios and electronic labs of Mass Communication Department before cutting the anniversary cake with Chairperson Dr Anjum Zia Dean of Social Sciences Mrs Riffat Saqlain, Director Institute of Communication Studies PU, Dr Ahsan Akhtar Naz.

The minister gave away certificates among the students journalists who worked for the Radio channel.

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Danish Schools authority members appointed
Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has approved the appointment of members of Danish Schools and Centre of Excellence School Authority.

The Punjab Chief Secretary has been appointed Vice Chairman of the authority. Punjab Assembly members nominated as members of the Authority are Rana M Afzal Khan, MPA (PP-66), Faisalabad, Major (r) Abdul Rehman Rana, (PP-53) Faisalabad and Dr Asma Mamdoot, (W-363). Experts from private sector have also been appointed members of the Authority. They include Gertrude Timae Garrow, Dr Amjad Saqib, VC PEEF, Basarat Kazim, Vice Principal LGS, Lahore, and head of Mission DFID/Country Head, the British High Commission, Islamabad.

The CM has also constituted an Expert Committee to deliberate upon all issues and guide the authority viz-a-viz important policy decisions as mentioned in the Section-4 of Danish School Act including Administrative Model, Curriculum, HR Recruitment, Training and Development and Financial Self-sustainability and optimal productive land use of Danish School.

This committee will convene its meeting on fortnightly basis. Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi will be chairman of the committee. The name of committee members are Saira Afzal Tarrar, MNA, Shehzadi Umer-zadi Tiwana, MPA, Major (r) Abdul Rehman Rana, MPA, Rana Muhamamd Afzal Khan, MPA, Raja Muhammad Anwar, Chairman, Chief Minister's Taskforce on School Education, Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib, Vice Chairman PEEF, Yousaf Kamal, Managing Director, Danish schools, Dr. Muhammad Memon, Director Agha Khan University Institute of Educational Development, Nadia Jamil, Mrs. Shaista Pervez Malik, Gertru-de Timae Garrow, Mrs. Seema Aziz, Care/Foundation, Basa-rat Kazim, Principal LGS Lahore, Major (r) Syed Munir Ahmed, Principal Sadiq Public School Bahawalpur, Chairman P&D Board, Dr Allah Bakhsh, Secy Literacy, M Mushtaq Ahmad, Commissioner Bah-awalpur Division and Secy Schools.

Committee may Co-opt members/experts on subject cited above. The nation

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