University Of Balochistan On The Brink Of Closure Due To Fiscal Crunch

The Baloch Hal News

QUETTA: The University of Balochistan (UoB) is once again facing the heat of a severe financial crunch with its Vice-Chancellor warning  that the largest educational institution of the least educated province in the country will have to face closure if a substantial additional grant is not released within six months.

Talking to media persons, Vice Chancellor of UoB, Professor Dr. Ghulam Nabi said that they had sent a proposed budget of Rs 710 million for financial year 2010-11 to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) but it was returned with cuts and a mere approval of Rs. 470 million.

“Our salary expenditure is Rs 500 million and it will be hardly possible to pay the employees,” he said, ” here is no question about sparing resources for academic activities.”

He said he had written an application to provincial government and Chancellor of University (Governor of Balochistan) to come for help and persuade the Higher Education Commission to release the required grant. He said that they have demanded to remove the cuts which has been imposed to the tune of Rs 390 million otherwise the varsity would not be in a position to provide salaries to its employees in time. If the crises were not addressed then the single option will be left to close the doors of varsity.

However, he said the issue had been taken up with Higher Education Commission and there is hope that they would provide additional resources.

According to treasurer, two years earlier the Higher Education Commission had provided Rs 154 million while university was facing financial crises and there is no improve in the situation now. After the notification of increment in salaries the deficit had risen to Rs 434 million which is equal to the outlay of any other universities’ budget. If measures were not taken then university would stop the release of salaries after every three months.

Referring to law and order situation he said around 60 to 70 senior faculty members had left the university due to raising incidents of target killings and as many intended to leave the university.

“They have submitted their NOC to transfer to other provinces. Though there is scarcity or shortage of senior faculty members but we can not stop them because the security scenario is seem not be improving in this province thus we are issuing NOC,” he maintained.