Financial crunch: Varsity yet to pay disparity allowance to staff

LAHORE:Despite approved by its Syndicate, the University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore administration has expressed its inability to pay Disparity Reduction Allowance to its staff because of financial constraints on the university.

The issue was discussed in the 481st meeting of the UET’s Syndicate held on Saturday. The Syndicate, however, approved the recommendations of the university’s Selection Board regarding appointment of a number of faculty members and appointment of five retired professors as Professor Emeritus. It is pertinent to mention that last year Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had approved 25pc disparity reduction allowance for all government employees excluding those of autonomous bodies, including universities. Later a delegation of vice-chancellors, led by Punjab University VC Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad, called on the chief minister in October over the issue. Subsequently, approval was granted vis-à-vis provision of disparity reduction allowance for teachers and employees of all the public sector universities of the province with the condition that universities would bear the financial burden in this regard.

Sources said the UET VC Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar, was in for the provision of the allowance as he had also got approved 25pc disparity reduction allowance from the UET Senate but owing to the university’s weak financial position the provision of the same was delayed.

They said the allowance for the UET employees was 25 percent of the basic in 2017. When contacted, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar said that the university would award the 25% disparity reduction allowance as soon as the university’s financial position improved.

To a question, he said around Rs150 million to 160 million were required on annual basis for this purpose and added the government had already made it clear that the provision of the allowance had to be managed by universities through their own finances.

Dr Mansoor Sarwar said disparity allowance had been approved and the university would start awarding the same to employees from grade-1 to garde-21 (excluding those on Tenure Track) once the university had enough finances.

Meanwhile, the 481st meeting of the UET’s Syndicate approved the appointment of seven professors, 29 associate professors, 15 assistant professors and seven lecturers in various departments and campuses in addition to promotion of four Assistant Professors as Associate Professors under Tenure Track System (TTS) as well as a Security Officer and an Assistant Engineer.

Dr Syed Mansoor Sarwar chaired the meeting which also approved recommendations of the Finance and Planning Committee, including adjustment of few teaching positions and reduction in postgraduate tuition fee to facilitate the postgraduate students.

The UET Syndicate also took decisions on different disciplinary cases against the university teachers and staff. After considering hearing reports in appeals of four employees, the Syndicate upheld the penalties imposed upon them by the VC under PEEDA Act 2006. After personal hearing in response to Show-Cause notices under PEEDA Act 2006, the Syndicate approved the recommendations of the Inquiry Committee regarding imposition of minor penalties on four teachers. On account of absence from duties, the Syndicate approved to terminate the contract of one Deputy Registrar.

The Syndicate also heard two former teachers and disposed of their representations filed under Section 41 of the UET Lahore Act 1974.

Considering the orders of the Chancellor/Governor Punjab in appeal of a Deputy Registrar, the Syndicate closed proceedings against him under PEEDA Act. Higher Education Commission Policy on drug and tobacco abuse in Higher Education Institutions 2021 was also adopted for implementation. The proposal to conduct online Entrance Test (ECAT-2022) for admission in undergraduate programmes by the university was also approved.

The Syndicate also approved establishment few new institutes, departments, and centres at the various campuses of the university. These included departments for Energy Engineering, Environment Sciences, Occupational Health and Safety, Data Sciences, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security.