Staff Report

Karachi, Sindh

Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar in a meeting with the leaders of 28 Bar Associations, listened to their issues and gave them a grant of Rs133.5 million.

The meeting, held on January 11, 2024, was attended by caretaker Law Minister Omar Soomro, Information Minister Ahmad Shah, and elected representatives of various high court and district bar associations.

Chief Minister said that being lawyers they must have good interactions and liaisons with the other segments of the society, especially legislators. He added that the lawyers must keep a close eye on society and extend their full support to the marginalized segment of society.

Chief Minister handed over cheques of Rs.10 million each to High Court Bar Associations of Hyderabad, Sukkur and Larkano, Rs.20 million to Karachi Bar Association, Rs.10 million each to District Bar Association Hyderabad and Sukkur, Rs.7.5 million to Malir, Rs.5 million each to Nawabshah and Khairpur, Rs.4 million Shikarpur, Rs.2 million each to Badin, Dadu, Jamshoro, Ghotki,  Mithi, Sanghar, Umerkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Shahdadkot, Sujawal and Naushehroferoze, Rs.3 million to Thatta and Rs.1 million each to Tando Mohammad Khan, Matiari, and Tando Allahyar district bars.

The CM also gave Rs.2 million cheque to Taluka Bar Association Bhiria of District Naushehro Feroze.

Also read: Sindh Women Lawyers’ Alliance hold Introductory Ceremony in Khairpur

___________________

The post Rs133.5 Million Grant released to 28 Bar Associations of Sindh first appeared on Sindh Courier.

From Correspondent

Islamabad

Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) announcing the protest demonstrations across the country, has strongly demanded from the central and all provincial governments to increase budget for public sector universities and higher education commission across the country in the new annual budget 2023-2024.

Association’s President Prof. Dr. Kaleemullah Bareech, Vice President Prof. Dr. Farrukh Arsalan, General Secretary Prof. Dr. Akhtiar Ali Ghumro and members of the Central Executive Council Prof. Dr. Bashir Ahmed (Agriculture), Dr. Mian Abdul Mubeen (Engineering) and cabinet members of all provincial chapters in a joint statement issued on Sunday May 14, 2023, demanded the Federal government to allocate 500 billion rupees in the recurring budget for the Higher Education Commission and 200 billion rupees in the development budget.

They also demanded from the provincial governments to increase the grants in aid of the universities of their respective provinces.

They regretted that despite high inflation rate i.e., 38%, during last five years, the budget for Higher Education sector across remained stagnant. The higher education sector has to face budgetary cuts and delay in payments which resulted in non-payment of salaries to the universities’ staff.

“There was no option for the teachers and employees of the universities except to protest. Higher education sector is facing crises like situation across the country.”

“In the light of decision of Council of Common Interest, 147 public sector universities with 88 campuses are mostly dependent upon the federal government for release of required funds till announcement of next NFC award. But the higher education sector especially public sector universities have been ignored. They said in their statement that all the developed countries of the world allocate at least 5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and neighboring countries up to 4 percent of their GDP for the education sector, while Pakistan allocates barely 2 percent of its GDP for the education sector, there can be no development and prosperity with this very low budgetary allocation for education,” statement said

It said, all the chapters of FAPUASA and the academic staff associations of all the universities are requested to organize demonstrations and budget seminars for the increase in the budget of the universities together with the officers and employees association in the universities so that to create awareness and convince the central and provincial governments to increase the budget.

***

Meanwhile, Dr. Fahad Nazir Khoso, President, and Dr. Baqir Ali Zardari, General Secretary, Sindh Chapter of FAPUASA, in a joint statement on Sunday condemned the victimizing and harassing tactics of BBS University Lyari administration, which according to them disrespected an elected President (Dr. GM Lahbar) of of the BBS University Lyari Teachers’ Association, by issuing him explanation letter just because he recorded a video of a prohibited movie being screened officially in auditorium. They demanded immediate withdrawal of explanation and otherwise warned of strong reaction across the province against the university administration.

____________

The post Demonstrations for increase in public sector universities’ budget announced first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Scholarships will be awarded to the students of both public and private universities

Karachi: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that Rs.40 million scholarships would be granted to the students of public and private sector universities.

“These scholarships will be awarded on merit-cum-need basis to the students of BS, MS, and M.Phil., Ph.D. of public sector universities and for the students of MS, M. Phil, Ph.D. of private sector universities during the current financial year.

This he said while presiding over a meeting of Sindh HEC and vice chancellor of Public Universities here at the CM House on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Sr. Advisor for U&B Nisar Khuhro, Minister Local Government Nasir Shah, Chairman HEC Dr. Asim, vice chancellors of public sector universities and other concerned.

The chief minister also distributed cheques of Rs.5 million each among five universities of rural areas to establish Information Technology Labs. These universities include Shaikh Ayaz University, Shikarpur, Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University, Sukkur, Benazir Bhutto University of Technology and Skill Development, Khairpur, Government College University, Hyderabad and Benazir Bhutto University Lyari, Karachi.

Shah also distributed cheques of Rs.45.7 million for research projects of faculty members of the universities as follows: University of Sindh Jamshoro; University of Karachi; NED University, Karachi; Mehran University Jamshoro; Dow University Karachi; Liaquat Medical University, Jamshoro; Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur; Sukkur IBA University; Begum Nusrat Bhutto University, Sukkur; Government College University, Hyderabad.

The chief minister said that Smart Class in a university is an innovative concept in education. In this environment e-learning and online education was the need of this time. “Use of smart classrooms in universities is not a dream, but it is the necessity of the time”.

Sindh HEC has initiated the program to provide funding to establish Smart Classrooms in all public Sector Universities of Sindh. In the first phase, the commission has approved funding to seven newly established/underdeveloped universities.

Further, the chief minister distributed cheques of Rs.21 million, Rs.3 million each to the universities as follows: Shaikh Ayaz University Shikarpur, Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University Sukkur, Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development, Khairpur, Government College University, Hyderabad and Shaheed Allah Baksh Soomro Arts & Design University, Jamshoro to enhance and promote a culture of teaching and research in the rapidly changing global scenario.

Sindh Higher Education Commission (Sindh HEC) is providing handholding support to public sector universities for organizing Seminar / Conference/ workshop & Symposia Program. Sindh HEC received nine proposals from different public sector universities. On the recommendation of the Review Committee the proposals of following Universities amounting to Rs.8.8 million have been approved, including University of Sindh, Jamshoro, NED University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Begum Nusrat Bhutto University for Women, Sukkur; Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand and University of Sufism & Modern Sciences, Bhit Shah. The proposals of remaining universities will be finalized shortly. (PR)

_____________________

The post Sindh HEC to award Rs.40 million scholarships first appeared on Sindh Courier.