UVAS syndicate approves Rs3.970b budget

LAHORE: The Syndicate of University of Veterinary and Animal Science (UVAS) approved Rs 3.970 billion budget for the financial year 2018-19 with focus on development, research and improving facilities for quality education and services.

Chairing the 55th Syndicate meeting, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that focus was on applied research and development projects for further improving the quality of education, research and services at the university.

The value of the ongoing 105 research projects is Rs 1.262 billion.

Prof Dr Pasha told the meeting that a hefty amount of Rs 2.335 billion had been allocated for development projects. The total development allocation, Rs 2.080 billion will be spent on ongoing projects while Rs 255 million on new projects to be initiated in the financial year 2018-19.

Work on "Livestock Sector Development Through Capacity Building Allied Research and Technology Transfer" University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) will begin this year for which Rs 200 million have been allocated.

The Higher Education Commission is funding this project. For another new project titled "Production Enhancement of Livestock Through Extension Services and Technology Transfer" funded by Punjab Government, Rs.55 million have been allocated.

Among the ongoing projects, the Vice-Chancellor said that Rs 600 million had been allocated for "Enhancement of Research Facilities at Ravi Campus Pattoki", Rs 1.204 billion for Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Bahawalpur (CUVAS), Rs.145.465 million for establishment of Training Centre for Biologics at UVAS Ravi Campus Pattoki, Rs 85 million for "In-service Training Facilities of Advanced Veterinary Education and Professional Development for Veterinary Professionals", Rs.30 million for "Export Facilitation Center for Livestock & Poultry Industry (EFCLP)" at UVAS, Rs.15.145 million for Development of Camel Milk Value Chain by Adopting Modern Supply Chain Mechanism for Enhancing Farmers profitability in Punjab.

Earlier, presenting the budget before the Syndicate, The Treasurer Dr Zubair Farooq said the university expects non-development income of Rs 1.568 billion from different sources during the year (2018-19) while non-development expenditure is expected at Rs 1.635 billion, so there is a deficit of Rs.66.729 million.

The Vice Chancellor said that Rs 767.812 million was expected to be generated by the university from its own sources. About the deficit, he said the university would try to meet the budget deficit by generating more income from its own resources, by increasing its research-based products and diagnostic and clinical services for stakeholders.

Special austerity measures will also be adopted to limit the recurring expenditure within available funds, he added.