MUZAFFARABAD: Vice Chancellor of the University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (UAJK), Professor Dr. Nasir Jamal Khattak, said that the University of Kashmir is currently facing a deficit of more than one billion rupees.
Addressing a large gathering of faculty members, administrative officers, and employees, he said that this requires a sense of collective responsibility and an effective strategy to deal with.
He discussed the issues of financial difficulties, administrative requirements with Principal Officers, Heads of Departments, faculty members, university officers, and employees in detail.
The Vice Chancellor said that we have to adopt a collective responsibility and a transparent strategy to get the institution out of financial difficulties and achieve the academic goals.
The Vice Chancellor said that the development of the University of Kashmir depends on institutional integrity, hard work, and departmental harmony.
He urged the teachers and employees to work with the mindset of “partners” instead of “employees” so that quality higher education can be provided to the younger generation.
Professor Khattak, while presenting a detailed review of the financial situation of the university, said that the institution is facing a deficit of Rs. 1.304 billion by the end of the current financial year, which needs to be met immediately.
He said that the university pays Rs 590.286 million in pension to its retired employees every year, which has already become a heavy burden on its limited financial resources.
He demanded that the government should provide a one-time grant of Rs 2 billion for the endowment fund and another Rs 2 billion for a separate pension fund to provide long-term financial stability to the university.
Professor Nasir Jamal Khattak, who himself is contributing from his personal resources to the university’s endowment fund on a monthly basis, also encouraged faculty members and staff to join in.
He said that the quality of higher education is high only when every individual gives first priority to the institutional interest and not personal interest.
He offered himself for complete accountability and said that real reforms always start with the leadership. During the meeting, he answered the questions and concerns of the teachers and staff.
He gave detailed answers and provided clarification on various administrative and academic issues. The teachers and employees present in the meeting appreciated the Vice Chancellor’s open style, direct communication, and comprehensiveness, and said that such meetings increase confidence in the institution.
During the meeting, Professor Khattak also gave a special cash prize from his personal pocket to Mr. Abid Zameer Hashmi (Stenographer), who had shown exemplary cooperation and good manners with the parents of a student admitted to the university during the annual admission.
This meeting was the first of its kind in the history of the university and was attended by about 900 teachers and employees of the university.
