Rs2.96b UVAS annual budget approved

LAHORE : The Syndicate of University of Veterinary and Animal Science (UVAS) Lahore approved Rs2.968 billion budget for the financial year 2021-22 with focus 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 in the budget, focus was on applied research and development projects for improving the quality of education, research and services at the university. The value of the ongoing 88 research projects is Rs1.082 billion.

Prof Nasim Ahmad told the meeting that Rs713.299 million had been allocated for development projects. Of the total development allocation, Rs428.299 million would be spent on ongoing projects while Rs285 million on new projects would be initiated in the financial year 2021-22.

The VC said that Rs200 million had been allocated for new project “Establishment of UVAS Sub-Campus at Chichawatni”, Rs50 million for new project “Strengthening of Capacity-Building Facilities at Para Veterinary Institute, Karor Lal Eason Layyah”, Rs78.3 million for new project establishment of girls and boys hostels in university and Rs35 million also allocated for new Project “Capacity Building of Dairy Farmers and Industry Stakeholders on Milk Value Chain”.

Among the ongoing projects, the VC said that Rs350 million had been allocated for “Enhancement of Research Facilities at UVAS Ravi Campus Pattoki”, Rs78.299 million for “Provision of Urgently Needed Male and Female Hostel Facilities at University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences”.

Earlier, presenting the budget before the Syndicate, Treasurer Muhammad Umar said that the university expected non-development income of Rs2.064 billion from different sources during the year 2021-22 while non-development expenditure was expected at Rs2.254 billion, so there was a deficit of Rs190.357 million. The VC said that Rs1.133 billion were expected to be generated by the university from its own sources. About the deficit, he said, the university would try to meet the budget deficit by generating more income from its own resources, by increasing its research-based products and diagnostic and clinical services for stakeholders. Special austerity measures will also be adopted to limit the recurring expenditure within the available funds, he added.