LAHORE   -  The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) syndicate on Thursday approved a budget worth Rs2.968 billion for the financial year 2021-22. The outlay focused on innovation, applied research, development, improving facilities for quality of education, services and transfer of technology.

Chairing the 66th syndicate meeting, UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmad said that focus in the budget was on applied research and development projects for improving the quality of education, research and services at the university.

Prof Nasim Ahmad told the meeting that funds amounting to Rs713.299 million had been allocated for the development projects. “Funds amounting to Rs428.299 million will be spent on the ongoing projects while the remaining Rs285 million will be utilised for the execution of new projects,” he said. “An amount of Rs200 million has been allocated for the establishment of UVAS sub-campus at Chichawatni. Another amount of Rs50 million has been earmarked for enhancing the capacity of staff at Para Veterinary Institute, Layyah. A sum of Rs78.3 million has also been set aside for the establishment of girls and boys hostels. Similarly, a total of Rs35 million has been put aside for the capacity building of dairy farmers and industry stakeholders on Milk Value Chain,” he added.

“Among the ongoing projects, a total of Rs350 million has been allocated for the enhancement of research facilities at UVAS Ravi Campus Pattoki. Similarly, an amount of Rs78.299 million has also been earmarked for the provision of urgently needed male and female hostel facilities,” the VC informed the meeting.

Earlier, presenting the budget before the syndicate, Treasurer Muhammad Umar said that the university expected the non-development income of Rs2.064 billion from different sources during the year 2021-22 while the non-development expenditure was expected at Rs2.254 billion. “So, there is a deficit of Rs190.357 million.” He said that 1.133 billion rupees were expected to be generated by the university from its own sources. About the deficit, he said that the university would try to meet the budget deficit by generating more income from its own resources i.e. increasing its research-based products, providing diagnostic and clinical services to the stakeholders, etc. “Special austerity measures will also be adopted to limit the recurring expenditure within available funds,” he added.

Earlier, the vice chancellor briefed members of the syndicate about various programmes of the UVAS including academic and research trainings, virtual trainings, webinars, internships for students, collaborations with other universities, etc. The VC also mentioned UVAS BSL-3 which, he said, was providing free Covid-19 testing services. “The facility has tested more than 280,000 coronavirus patients so far,” he added.