Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Zahoor ul Haq expresses gratitude for Syndicate’s continued guidance and shared that university had made remarkable progress since January 2025 through institutional discipline, transparency and reform-driven management
GUJRAT: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Oct 18th, 2025) The University of Gujrat (UoG) Syndicate in its 52nd meeting, which was held at Hafiz Hayat Campus on Thursday, has granted approval for the purchase of 27 additional buses to expand the university’s transport fleet, significantly improving travel facilities for students. Several other key decisions were approved to enhance student services and institutional development.
Address the meeting, the vice chancellor expressed gratitude for the Syndicate’s continued guidance and shared that the university had made remarkable progress since January 2025 through institutional discipline, transparency and reform-driven management.
He briefed the house on several key initiatives, including the new Workload Policy, which standardizes 40 working hours per week for all faculty members and is expected to save over Rs100 million annually. He also informed that direct fuel procurement from PSO, implemented in line with Punjab Procurement Rules, will generate additional savings of around Rs90 million per year.
Highlighting the University’s commitment to student welfare, Prof. Dr Zahoor ul Haq told the members about the launch of a comprehensive Scholarship Policy worth Rs250 million, benefiting over 4,200 students – including nearly 1,000 orphans and single-parent students – that every fifth student is studying on UoG funded scholarship. Despite these allocations, the varsity remains financially sound, having already achieved Rs1.1 billion in revenue this semester.
The VC shared that 36 new academic programs had been approved, 13 of which went operational this year, enrolling 915 students and generating Rs55 million in new revenue which is expected to reach Rs300 million in next four years.
The UoG has also enhanced its rental income by 33 percent, reflecting efficient asset utilization.
Major budget allocations for FY 2025–26 include Rs100 million for IT infrastructure, Rs67 million for laboratory equipment, Rs373 million for civil works, Rs100 million for campus solarization and Rs500 million for expanding the transport fleet with 27 new buses.
On the academic front, UoG has achieved international recognition, ranking 363rd globally in Research Quality in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, placing it among Pakistan’s top ten universities. The Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) has also earned Category “W” with a score of 85.09 points from the Higher Education Commission, the highest ever awarded by the HEC.
The Syndicate members commended the university’s achievements, particularly its strong financial management, growing reputation and inclusive academic policies. They lauded Prof. Dr Zahoor ul Haq for his visionary leadership and the University’s transformation into one of the most dynamic and forward-looking higher education institutions.
The meeting also endorsed the restructuring of the Recruitment Complaint Redressal Cell to streamline grievance handling and ensure transparency.
The members reaffirmed their commitment to Pakistan’s sustainable development and stability through the modernization of higher education and the holistic training of youth.
In addition to ratifying decisions from the 51st Syndicate meeting, the members approved recommendations from the 33rd Finance and Planning Committee meeting and the 27th Academic Council meeting. These included auctioning of shop rentals within the university premises.
Updates on major development projects underway at the University of Gujrat were also discussed.
The meeting was attended by a distinguished panel of Syndicate members, including MPA Waqar Ahmad Cheema, MPA Tariq Subhani, Prof. Dr Tariq Mahmood (former VC, University of Narowal, representative of HEC Islamabad), Meera Elahi, Safia Javed Chaudhry, Dean Prof. Dr Shahid Iqbal, Dean Prof. Dr Zahid Yousaf and Dean Prof. Dr Faisal Mahmood Mirza.
Online participants included MPA Tashfeen Safdar, Zahida Azhar (Additional Secretary Universities, HED Lahore), Maria Javed (Deputy Secretary Finance Department Lahore), Shahid Imtiaz (Additional Secretary Advisory, Law & Parliamentary Affairs Lahore), Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan (Chairperson PHEC Lahore), Prof. Dr Qaiser Abbas (Vice Chancellor, University of Sargodha), Prof. Dr Rehan Sadiq Sheikh (Director CAMB, Punjab University), Dr. Adil Rasheed (Director ORIC UoG), Farhat Kausar( Director QEC UoG), Naveed Haider Shirazi (Chairman BISE Gujranwala), Muhammad Yasin Khan (CEO District Education Authority Gujrat), and Sheikh Tariq Mahmood (overseas Pakistani business).
