Punjab University Academic Association (PUASA) general body meeting was held Thursday at the New Campus Undergraduate Block and demanded the government appoint of regular Vice Chancellor and stressed for transparent appointment process of VC as per the merit that gives a level playing field to all candidates.

Prof Dr. Muhammad Azhar Naeem presided over and Dr. Amjad Magsi anchored the PUASA proceedings with the participation of faculty members.

As per the statement issued by the Punjab University Academic Staff Association Secretary Dr. Amjad Abbas Khan Magsi, the university teachers raised serious concerns about the deteriorating financial, academic, and security situation at the university.

The meeting members said the policies of the administration have badly affected the Punjab university’s interests over the past four years.

The hasty and persons-specific restructuring and expansion have actually spoiled the university’s resources and created deep disbelief in the community.

-PU VC Appointment-

It also demanded the appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor. The appointment process of the Vice Chancellor must be transparent, according to merit and a level playing field be provided to all candidates.

-Medical College Funds-

“In the name of the creation of a Medical College and a hospital, millions of rupees were collected from the different colleges and departments of the university. The faculty is clueless about its utilization. It was demanded to return the said amount,” the statement reads.

The meeting also expressed concerns about the security situation of the hostels which has worsened as violence among the ‘rival student groups’ has become a routine matter.

-Selection Criteria-

The general body meeting said the selection process has been biased, partial, and against transparency as the facilities available to the community earlier have been compromised and the teachers are facing an unusual situation at the health center where even life-saving drugs are rarely found.

-PU Graveyard-

The graveyard of the university is not even safe and the graves are being desanctified. The community demanded strict action against those who are responsible for the act.

-Special Disparity Allowance-

The faculty members further demanded the grant of a 15 percent Special Disparity Allowance to all grades of the University Faculty and Staff.

They demanded a 44 percent increase in the House Requisition for all the faculty and staff.

-No Progress on Deans-ASA Agreement-

The faculty demanded and asked the administration to act upon the agreement done between the Deans and the ASA in May this year and no progress in this regard is seen.

-Uniform Service Structure-

The meeting demanded a uniform service structure for the faculty of Public Sector Universities and asked HEC Pakistan to resolve the long-standing issues of BPS faculty at the earliest. The BPS faculty are facing grave disparity in the service promotion process and salary structures.