PU Syndicate recommends Rs19.6bn budget

LAHORE: Punjab University Syndicate recommended Rs19.6 billion budget for the year 2024-25 for the approval of the university’s Senate during its 1755th meeting chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood here on Friday.

A PU spokesperson said the deficit of Rs2 billion would be managed by introducing new market based programmes, reducing expenditures and adopting austerity measures.

In the budget, Punjab University has increased scholarships for needy and talented students from Rs247m to Rs380m in order to provide them with financial assistance. The university administration has allocated Rs229 million, as per its policy to promote research culture on the direction of the VC to increase PU’s international ranking further and socio-economic impact research.

According to other salient features of the budget, special students will also be provided with free education along with boarding facilities while students taking admission on sports basis will be provided with free education. The university will continue to waive off tuition fee of Hafiz-e-Quran. Moreover, HEC scholarships worth Rs122 million and PEEF scholarships will also be provided to students.

In the budget, Punjab University would continue to provide subsidies of millions of rupees to the students in hostels. In addition to the above, the subsidy is also being provided on electricity bills in teaching departments. PU has also allocated Rs2.3 billion for development projects.