No rise in tuition fee; scholarships, subsidies offered to students over seven years: PU

Punjab University Registrar Professor Dr Liaqat Ali has said that under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Punjab University has not increased tuition fee during the last seven years and was charging lowest fee as compared to all other public and private sector universities. He said that in terms of utility charges, PU was not shifting burden to the pocket of poor students and providing subsidies and scholarships worth millions of rupees.
He was addressing a press conference at committee room of Undergraduate Study Centre flanked by Chairman Hall Council Professor Dr Muhammad Akhter, Controller Examinations Professor Dr Shahid Munir, Director Students Affairs Shahid Gul, Incharge ICS Dr Noshina Saleem, Additional Registrar Dr Kamran Abid, Acting Treasurer Rao Muhammad Sharif, Resident Officer-I Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmad and Additional Registrar-II Malik Muhammad Zaheer.
Addressing the press conference, Dr Ali said PU had the largest transport system with 60 buses in its fleet and was providing travel facilities to the students on the lowest rates. He said PU busses were operating far-reaching areas ie Kamonke, Kasur and students were travelling for only nine rupees daily. "PU is providing a subsidy of worth millions of rupees on bearing diesel expenditures," he added.
Dr Ali said that all the morning students were being provided with hostel accommodation on merit and PU was charging minimum fees and providing maximum subsidy as compared to other public and private sector universities. He said it was clearly published in the advertisement for admission that students of evening classes shall not be provided with hostel accommodation.
He said on the directive of Dr Mujahid Kamran, PU was providing free education and residential facilities to more than 100 Balochistani students being admitted every year. Moreover, he said, PU was providing a scholarship of worth Rs 3,000 to every Balochistani student per month. He said incumbent administration had set new records in faculty development, establishment of laboratories, capacity building of students and research activities, adding that facilities being provided by PU to its students were not being provided even in the universities of developed countries.
Presenting facts and figures, PU Acting Treasurer Rao Muhammad Sharif said PU was taking 127 million rupees from regular students but was providing scholarships of worth Rs 108.68 million the students while Rs 11 million were being spent on students' affairs. He stated that moreover, PU was providing free-of-cost education to disabled, position holders, students of flood affected areas and players admitted on sports basis.