LAHORE: The Punjab University Syndicate on Friday granted approval in principle to give 305 kanals to the Lahore Development Authority for the construction of a road from opposite Jinnah Hospital, Canal Road, to be linked with Wahdat Road (Iqbal Town) through the varsity land.

The Syndicate meeting chaired by VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran discussed the project at length and, according to sources, the Syndicate members stressed the university should also assertand include a clause that it would not give commercialization fee to the LDA.

As the draft agreement says the proposed road will benefit the PU in achievement of its objectives of attaining financial resources for furtherance and improvement of educational standards, the Syndicate members also asked about the benefit in financial terms.

The meeting was told that the university would be able to earn around Rs6 billion during the next 10 years from the commercialization of the road.

The PU Syndicate has deferred the representation of Dr Zaid Mahmood against the decision of the Syndicate regarding his compulsory retirement from PU service for committing plagiarism in two of his research articles because the case was sub judice.

It also deferred the case of taking up the inquiry conducted against Maliha Azami Aga, associate professor at PU College of Art and Design, for allegedly committing misconduct in the performance of her duties as principal of the PUCAD. The case was deferred because it had alsobeen taken up by the governor/chancellor.

The Syndicate approved the selection of PU Law College principal Dr Shazia Qureshi as professor in less than four months, when she was selected as associate professor. Dr Qureshi was selected as professor by the selection board on Thursday and board`s decision was presented before the Syndicate as a current work.

The Syndicate also approved the appointment of Prof Dr Shahida Manzoor as principal of PU College of Art and Design till further orders.

It also confirmed associate professor Dr Amra Raza`s appointment as chairperson of the English Language and Literature Department from Oct 1, 2011, to Sept 30, 2014. Dr Raza was also recommended to the Syndicate, being the only associate professor working in the department for appointment as department chairperson after the expiry of her current tenure.

It also approved VC`s four anticipatory orders including Islamic scholar Raghib Naeemi`s appointment as selection board member.