Karachi: The Federal Urdu University has come close to financial bankruptcy, due to the inattention of the federal governments and the lack of seriousness and indifference of the Chancellor’s Secretariat, this university established in the name of the national language Urdu is practically dying in the 20th year of its establishment.
This has been disclosed by the official letters written by the current Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dr. Rubina Mushtaq, on February 20, in connection with the meeting of the University Senate called by the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi, and based on these letters, for the first time, the issues related to the worst financial loss of the University. It has also been made a part of the agenda of the Cosinet meeting.
These letters have revealed that since November 2023, Urdu University has not been in a position to pay salaries and pensions to its employees as well as manage day-to-day affairs.
Various dues have not been paid for the past three years, as a result of which the current administration is facing debts of more than 1200 million from the co-teachers, examination staff and vendors, and 1700 million rupees in addition to the budget immediately to save the university and continue the education of the students studying there. Receipt of is required.
It should be noted that this report based on the disclosures made by the acting vice chancellor on the financial situation is being presented in a meeting that was called in connection with the appointment of a new permanent vice chancellor of the university, in which the search committee of Jamia Urdu has appointed five candidates for the appointment of a new vice chancellor. Handing over the selected names to the Senate.
The senate will forward three of these five names to the chancellor/president of the university out of which the president will approve one of the names. Whichever academician will take over the management of the university as the vice chancellor, he will face serious challenges to save this sinking university because even the Higher Education Commission is still not ready to make any recommendation to the federal government to get the university out of this worst financial crisis. .
When contacted by “Express”, Chairman of Higher Education Commission, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad said that from where to get the funds, the federal government is not ready to give any additional funds, it is the “commitment” of the federal government from the IMF that no supplementary grant will be given to any institution, then how Urdu University Give me the money.
While discussing the situation of Urdu University, he said that the vice-chancellors there have done a great job, they do not listen to anyone, including the Chancellor’s office, and appointments and upgrades are being made, then they say give extra money.
He said that this problem is not a one-day issue, the people there are doing incompetence and disrespect, if the governor fixes it, it can get better.
It should be noted that not only the university is facing the worst financial loss, but the university administration has also revealed that the number of admissions in Jamia Urdu has decreased. While the payment of salaries and pensions are also suspended.
It should be noted that Urdu University was established in the year 2002 by the efforts of Dr. Jameeluddin Ali during the tenure of former President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf, and Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqui was its first founding vice chancellor.
Now after 20 years of its establishment, the official documents about the situation of the same university state that the pension payments for the month of January are still pending, 159 million rupees to 50 employees in the form of commutation, 26 million rupees in the form of collective encashment of 24 retired employees, honorarium for thesis evaluation. 50 million rupees, 105 million rupees are due for honorarium of part-time teachers.
According to the ratio of income and expenditure in the current fiscal year, a loss of more than 934 million rupees has been estimated and this deficit includes the amount of liabilities of the last fiscal year of 468 million rupees, which is included in the government announcement for the annual increase in employee salaries, ad hoc relief allowance and pension. includes an increase in
On the other hand, when “Express” contacted the founder vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Pirzada Qasim, he said that the chancellor should make serious efforts to save this university, serious people should be given the responsibility.
He further said that the rules written by this university are different from other universities and are the cause of problems. The main body of the university is the syndicate. The senate is held once in two years. In which representatives from everywhere are included.
Professor Dr Pirzada Qasim said that the senate cannot deal with things in this way, Urdu University does not have a serious attitude in the senate, there is no vice chancellor, they are running temporarily, everyone is busy with their own problems.
To a question, Dr. Pirzada Qasim said that as many public sector universities are facing lack of resources, grants are not being increased, expenses are increasing, a survey should be conducted and rationally see what should be done because the public sector cannot be run by the fees of the government, the universities are run on grants. Can’t run on fees.