LAHORE:The Punjab University Joint Action Committee (PU JAC) has accused the university vice-chancellor of creating administrative, financial, academic, and research crises at the university and demanded an immediate forensic audit, an end to unnecessary centralisation of powers, and the restoration of statutory university forums.
The committee alleged that the current administration has caused serious damage to governance, financial management, and the research environment, pushing the institution towards decline. Faculty members claimed that during the past 22 months, key bodies including the Senate, Finance and Planning Committee, and Deans Committee hardly met, resulting in delayed decisions and disruption in academic, research, and administrative affairs.
The allegations were made at a press conference held at the Punjab University Executive Club, attended by Chairman Professor Dr Sardar Asghar Iqbal, Convener Professor Dr Kamran Abid, Chaudhry Basharat Mahmood, Professor Dr Nayab Batool, Professor Dr Muqit Javed Bhatti, Shafqat Ali, Mudassar Abbas, Tayyab Ejaz Swati, Professor Dr Abdul Rehman Khan Niazi, Dr Majid Ali, Dr Abrar Ahmed Zafar, Tanveer Awan, and a large number of faculty members and employees.
Convener Professor Dr Kamran Abid said the university presented a budget deficit of Rs2.57 billion, while the actual shortfall has reached nearly Rs8 billion. He alleged that expenditures were made without approval from the Finance and Planning Committee and the Syndicate, and Rs786 million were transferred from various departments to a central account under the “One Account Policy” and misappropriated.
He said self-supporting programmes, for the first time in the university’s history, suffered losses of Rs350 million, raising concerns about financial transparency.The committee pointed out a decline in global rankings, stating that the university dropped from 542 to 588 in QS rankings. It added that research grants, incentives, leave encashment, Eid honorarium and publication support have effectively been suspended, while an inquiry-driven environment is creating fear among faculty members.
The committee demanded CM, chancellor and Punjab governor order an immediate forensic audit, remove DG (SES), from his position, advertise the post of registrar and other teachers for a permanent appointment, and ensure regular meetings of all statutory bodies.It warned that failure to meet these demands would lead to protests, issuance of a white paper, symbolic lockouts, and a boycott of classes.
