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Universities to be made self-sufficient: Rana Mashhood
Universities to be made self-sufficient: Rana Mashhood


LAHORE: (Monday, August 18, 2014): Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said that the government had adopted a policy to make institutions of higher learning self-sufficient and using extra land for commercial purposes will enable universities to stand on their own feet. He was addressing a ceremony to sign Memorandum of Understanding between Punjab University and Lahore Development Authority for construction of road to link Maulana Shaukat Ali Road and Wahdat Road through Punjab University. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Khawaja Ahmed Hassan, Mustafa Imam, Director General LDA Ahad Cheema, Registrar PU Prof Dr Muhammad Amin Athar, elected members of PU Syndicate and administrative officers were present on the occasion.

Addressing the ceremony, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said that it was Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif’s vision to provide easy access to adjacent area and easy transportation facilities by connecting major arteries of the area through university. He said that the road would not only save time and fuel of the people but reduce traffic pressure on Morr Bhekewal, Campus Bridge, Canal Road and other connecting roads. He said that both PU and people of Lahore would benefit from the project of public welfare. He lauded PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran, Members of Syndicate, Khawaja Ahmed Hassan and Ahad Cheema for making efforts for approval of the project.

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran said that the project would be a milestone in the history of Punjab University. He said that PU met 67 percent of its expenditures through own sources but because of increase in salaries and other reasons, the burden on university’s budget was increasing. He said that PU needed funds to construct laboratories, purchase equipment, provision of residential facilities to faculty members, faculty members’ training, provision of various facilities, scholarships and subsidies to students etc, PU was facing financial difficulties but it was managing the situation. He expressed the hope that with the money from commercial activities on both sides of the road, PU will become the first Pakistani university which will meet all its expenditures through its own sources. Khawaja Ahmed Hassan said that the agreement had been reached after consensus on both sides and both Punjab University and people would benefit from the decision. Ahad Cheema said that the project, including main road, side roads, underpass on Canal Road etc will cost 1.7 billion and the work on the project will start after two weeks. Earlier, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran and DG LDA signed the agreement.