LAHORE - The Higher Education Commission-funded programme for development of 15,000 highly meritorious women and future leaders of Pakistan at Lahore College for Women University has been withdrawn owing to university’s inefficiency, The Nation has learnt.
Official sources said that the HEC had approved the programme a couple of years ago. The project titled "Strengthening of 4-Year Degree Programme through Expansion of Existing Facilities at LCWU” was surrendered as the varsity’s administration from the last 11 months could not come up to HEC’s expectations.
The LCWU has also submitted acknowledgement of the amounts surrendered under HEC funded project, official correspondence says.
Moreover, the HEC Islamabad had also requested to forward the bank closure certificate of the subject project to its office for further process.
Though, availing the opportunity by the HEC, former VC Dr SabihaMansoor who claims to be the achiever of the programme, has sent some of the faculty members abroad on scholarships under this project.
As per the letter details, the former VC Dr Sabiha Mansoor has expressed serious disappointment over the closure of the programme she started in her tenure. The university syndicate, the CM Punjab and the governor had duly approved the program for development of 15,000 highly meritorious women and future leaders of Pakistan.
The current step taken by the HEC was a great setback to LCWU, the letter added. The funds withdrawn were critical to achieve LCWU Vision 2020, it said.
An HEC official requesting anonymity told that the programme at the varsity was closed due to many factors.
At present, the University is being run by Dr Uzma Quraishi who is at third number on seniority list and her appointment of professor is also under question due to shortage of publications and post PhD experience.
Moreover, there is no permanent Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Treasurer, Direction Administration, Project Director, Director Planning & Development, Director QEC, Director OREC, Director DFDI, Chief Security Officer and many more. All these significant offices are being run on additional charges.
Under the given circumstances, it was not possible for the university to avail the opportunity of women empowerment through education and the HEC could not continue its program, the official said.
HEC can’t continue its funding for a university where there is no permanent Deans and Directors?
It was also learnt that some of the senior teaching staff has approached the LHC for their concerns. Not a single meeting with senior faculty has been conducted to address the university academic issues during the last eleven months. Moreover, academic council for over one year could not be called. It is also learnt that some of the officers of the university have resigned due to non-professional behavior and attitude of the administration.
The PRO was contacted for official version on the issue, he didn’t respond the request.