University of the Punjab

Introduction

During the last 8 years, the Government of Gen Pervez Musharraf took keen interest in education sector, and launched a number of reform initiatives, including establishment of National Task Force on Higher Education, creation of Higher Education Commission (HEC), appointment of Chancellors’ Steering Committee headed by the President to review the development of higher education and unprecedented allocation of over Rs.22 billion for higher education which is over 4600% higher than any of the previous governments since independence. The allocation has been increased by 50% for the financial year 2006-07.

Early release of funds to the universities by the HEC, and with better management of resources, it has gradually helped to improve enabling environment such as infrastructure, libraries, laboratories, computer labs, establishment of new campuses, constituent colleges, new departments and new programs, to meet our national and international needs.

Personal interest by the Chancellor Lt Gen Khalid Maqbool(Retd.) has further facilitated development of higher education, by establishing new universities, providing funds for Punjab University(PU) Schools of Biological and Physical Sciences, special scholarships for teachers/students, Rs.1 billion endowment for scholarship, and waiver of deduction of 25% of pay of PhD candidates coming from outside Lahore, to encourage Ph.D.

Chief Minister Punjab Ch. Pervez Elahi and Pro-Chancellor/Education Minister, Punjab, Mian Imran Masood took keen interest in the development of Universities and provided financial support to improve the quality and standard of education in province of Punjab.

Scope

This development report evaluates the nature and significance of recent developments, improvements and innovations made from September 1999 to-date. It also provides a comparative analysis of the previous stagnancy and present progressive developments in Punjab University.

Composition of the University

The University comprises

		1990	1999	2007
a.	Campuses	3	3	4
b.	Faculties	9	9	13
c.	Constituent Colleges	3	3	10
d.	Departments/Centres/Institutes	43	43	64
e.	Faculty Members	259	344	623
f.	On-Campus Students	7,764	10,100	25,000
g.	Off-Campus Students	81,077	2,08,088	3,55,000
h.	Affiliated Colleges	168	283	482

During the last 8 years, due to early release of funds by the Government , we established a new campus at Gujranwala, raised 3 new constituent colleges, upgraded 4 departments to constituent colleges, re-structured faculties from 9 to 13, launched 21 new departments, added over 400 teachers, student body increased by 15,000, off-campus students increased by 150,000 and 199 colleges were affiliated.

The University has following Campus:-

• Quaid-e-Azam Campus – (New Campus)
• Allama Iqbal Campus – (Old Campus)
• Sir Syed Campus/ Khanspur Campus - Integrated Mountain Research
• Gujranwala Sub-Campus - for (Law, Commerce, Business & IT)

Vision

Punjab University intends to be a lead public university in providing affordable educational opportunities to develop scientific, socio-cultural, economic and political leadership, through learner-centred teaching and research, while strengthening our identity at National and International level.

Mission Statement

Educate students to think analytically, work creatively, communicate effectively, and become technologically literate.
Function as a visible, responsible and responsive student-centered institution dedicated to academic excellence.
Promote areas with distinctive strengths for which reputations for excellence can be recognized.
Provide a supportive environment that encourages faculty and staff to continue their intellectual and professional growth.
Foster over traditional value system of honesty, truthfulness, humility and contentment amongst the faculty, staff and students to respond to the challenges of 21st century.

Information Technology / Computer Awareness

Punjab University is the first public university in the field of IT to lay down 28 Km. long Fiber Optic Cable Network in 2001: having 67 optical fiber nodes serving all departments, hostels and Administrative Block through local area network. Over 5000 state of the art Pentium-III & IV computers are held as against 33 in 1999. Computer culture has been created. An IT Centre has been established for expansion, maintenance of computers and fiber optic cable network. Bandwidth has been gradually increased from 64Kb to 9Mb, highest in any university in Pakistan.

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