LAHORE: There will be no increase in the tuition fee for students and Rs735 million will be utilised for applied research, decided the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences` Syndicate while approving Rs2.06 billion budget for the 2015-16 fiscal at a meeting on Monday.

Presided over by ViceChancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, the 41st meeting of the syndicate decided that the university would continue to provide free education and accommodation to 38 students from Balochistan in the next financial year. Of them, 13 are studying in PhD, 12 in M.Phil and 13 in undergraduate degree programmes.

The university also increased the students` scholarship to Rs32 million for next fiscal, from Rs28 million in 2013-14 and Rs31 million in 2014-15.

Of the Rs923.126 million set aside for development projects, a sum of Rs120 million would be spent on development projects of Ravi Campus, Pattoki, Rs36 million on College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Rs40 million on the development of a new para-veterinary school at Narowal and Rs700 million on Cholistan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bahawalpur.

The syndicate also approved seven new degree programmes, including BS Applied Microbiology (evening), MSc in Statistics andChemistry, M.Phil Meat Science and Technology, M.

Phil Business Management, MBA Management Sciences and M.Phil Pet Animal Practice.

Earlier, presenting budget estimates before the syndicate, Treasurer Muhammad Aslam Pervaiz said the university expected an income of Rs1,941.817 million from different sources during the financial year 2015-16.

He said Rs923.126 million had been allocated for development projects while nondevelopmental expenditures were estimated at Rs1,077.473 million.

The UVAS expected Rs1,018.691 million as nondevelopmental income so there would be a deficit of Rs58.782 million.

The vice chancellor said the university would try to meet the budget deficit by generating more income from its own resources.

He said the university had planned to increase its research-based products, including production of HS and PPR vaccines and mineral mixtures by providing diagnostic and clinical services to stakeholders as well as by increasing students` enrollment through initiation of new degree and diploma programmes.

Prof Pasha said special austerity measures would also be adopted to limit the recurring expenditure within available funds.

The VC said the faculty members were contributing a hefty amount to the university income through their competitive research grants.

He said they had won research grants of Rs605.948 million in 201314 and Rs734.952 million in 2014-15 with 22 per cent increase.