UHS Rs 277.872 million budget approved

With focus on research activities, the Board of Governors (BoGs) of the University of Health Sciences' (UHS) in its 24th meeting held here on Saturday, accorded approval to UHS budget worth Rs 277.872 million for the financial year 2011-12.
According to budget estimates, Rs 26.627 million have been earmarked for research purposes. Out of it, Rs 12 million have been allocated for the grant of scholarship to research scholars, Rs 10.127 million for purchase of chemicals, reagents, glassware and specialised kits, and Rs 3.500 million have been set aside for lab equipment. UHS has also established a Research Fund with an amount of Rs one million for undertaking research of special nature.
The meeting of UHS board was held here on Saturday with its chairman Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar in the chair. Other members who attended the meeting were included former finance minister Sartaj Aziz, Former Justice Amer Raza Khan, Professor Zafar Iqbal Qureshi, Professor Amer Aziz, UHS VC Professor M.H. Mubbashar, special secretary finance and additional secretary health.
As per budget estimates, a sum of Rs 48.840 million has been allocated for operating expenses that includes utilities (Rs 14.800 million), repair and maintenance (Rs 4.550 million), communications (Rs 6.515 million), printing and publications (Rs 5.000 million), stationery(Rs 6.200 million), advertisement and publicity (Rs 1.000 million), books and periodicals (Rs 2.000 million), law charges (Rs 1.500 million), and travel and transportation (Rs 5.925 million). An amount of Rs 80.000 million has been reserved for employee related expenses.
The UHS board also approved 15 per cent increase in basic pay of university employees as ad hoc relief allowance. An amount of Rs 75.882 million will be spent on development activities, which include civil works (Rs 60.000 million), purchase of transport (Rs 3.255 million), purchase of machinery (Rs 10.127 million), and furniture and fixture (Rs 2.500 million).
UHS will spend Rs 40.000 million on the conduct of examinations and Rs 2.000 million on continued professional development of the medical faculty. A sum of Rs 2.000 million has been allocated for international linkages and Rs 2.000 million for the introduction of new academic programmes during the year 2011-12.