KHANEWAL
The future of more than 500 students is at stake as the University College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Islamia University of Bahawalpur is no more authorised to award the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine after the cancellation of its interim accreditation by the Pakistan Veterinary and Medical Council.
It was cancelled as the college could not fulfil the requirements for having the permanent accreditation. It had started the 5-year degree programme a decade ago in veterinary medicine.
Hundreds of students belonging to Khanewal, Multan, DG Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan districts studying at the administration has at tenterhooks for accreditation. The college lacks equipments and infrastructure required by the Pakistan Veterinary and Medical Council for the accreditation due to lazy attitude of the administration of the college and the university, the students said. The college has failed to take necessary actions for the provision of basic infrastructure for registration with the veterinary council, they added.
After the years of struggle, a delegation of students had met with MNA Hamza Shabaz Sharif last year in Lahore and the latter had directed former vice chancellor Dr Mukhtar to pay attention to the issue. Afterword, he released the funds of Rs40 million for the fulfilment of required formalities and asked the Veterinary Council to visit the college same year.
A delegate of Pakistan Veterinary and Medical Council led by Dr Muhammad Arshad visited the college last year and approved an interim accreditation for one year which was extendable on the provision of highly qualified faculty and infrastructure in upcoming years.
Now, the same authority has cancelled the interim accreditation on the basis of non-provision of faculty and equipments within year which is going to produce very severe repercussions on the above mentioned faction of students.
“We are feeling fear of future as all our efforts have gone in vain due to unreasonable attitude of Vice Chancellor Dr Qaisar Mushtaq,” said a final year student on the request of anonymity.” We tried our level best to convince him for the appointment of highly qualified faculty and for the provision of better equipment in the laboratories but he is doing absolutely nothing for the purpose.”
Another female student of the college said, “The vice chancellor was threatening the students that protest would bring severe reaction against them. The administration of the university is trying to keep us silent but silence would be like death sentence to us as we are ready for collective suicides.”
When contacted, the vice chancellor’s assistant said that the former was out of the country and would return after a month. However, the registrar of Islamia University said, “We are making efforts to resolve the issue and secure the future of the students. Rao Zahid Abbas of Veterinary Medicine Department of the university is working on the issue with Pakistan Veterinary and Medical Council for the accreditation of the degree.”
RETIRING BABU BADE FAREWELL: Exemplary, inspiring and motivating were just some of the sentiments echoed by staff of the District Health Department, to describe District Health Officer Dr Muhammad Yousaf Sumra, as they bid him farewell at his retirement at a dinner held in his honour here the other night.
Addressing the participants, Faisalabad District and Sessions Judge Main Safdar Saleem paid rich tribute to the DO Health who retired from service after 30 years service. He appreciated his endeavours and meritorious services for improvement of the Health Department in the district.
In his address MNA Muhammad Khan Daha said that Dr Yousaf Sumra’s services were priceless and unforgettable for the Health Department.
Addressing in his farewell speech, Dr Sumra thanked all the health department staffers and stressed the need for honesty in the discharge of duty. He said that relief to the depressed and oppressed people was the real worship and the Health Department staff should perform duty as worship.
On the occasion, precious gifts were also presented to Dr Sumra by DSJ Mian Safdar Saleem, MNA Muhammad Khan Daha and Prof Muhammad Yousaf on behalf of Citizen Forum.