LAHORE: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has asked the Punjab government not to start classes at the Fatima Jinnah Medical University until the varsity meets specified requirements and issuance of a No Objection Certificate (NOC).

The HEC put the condition of NOC for `starting` academic activities at the FJMU in response to the Punjab government`s request it had submitted to the Commission on June 16 for notifying this newlyestablished medical university in the provincial capital.

Health Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik, however, says the HEC`s direction is meant for postgraduate classes which are yet to be started while all other classes will continue.

Meanwhile, the Punjab government has yet to form any supreme body of the varsity like Syndicate in order to run its academic, financialand administrativeaffairs.

The health department had notified the FJMU as third medical varsity of the provincial capital on July1 last after getting approval by the chancellor (Punjab governor) and the chief minister. It had also appointed FJMC principal Prof Dr Sardar Fakhar Imam as acting vice chancellor.

`A lot of work is yet to be done to make the varsity fully functional and the Punjab government is taking least interest in this regard,` an official told Dawn. He said the government`s request to the HEC before completing `homework` was a premature step as the FJMU still required creation of new positions and appointment of the relevant staff in order to run its affairs. The vacancies of pro-vice chancellor, registrar, treasurer, controller of examinations, librarian, auditor, etc., remain to be filled.

The official said the formation of Syndicate was imperative for appointments on key positions.

Though the FJMU`s new management has done a lot of exercise to make it functional, the Punjab government has delayed nominations for the formation of the Syndicate.

According to the Act, the government is supposed to nominate eminent medical teachers, bankers,vice chancellors from medical universities etc., for the Syndicate.

Talking about the significance of this supreme body, he said, the FJMU Act had empowered the Syndicate to recommend or make appointments on many top positions of the institute.

The Act says, `The Syndicate shall, on the recommendation of the Vice Chancellor, appoint a Registrar in such manner and on such terms andconditionsasmaybeprescribed.

`Similarly, the appointments of Treasurer and Controller of Examinations and internal auditor shall also be made through the same important authority.

The formation of Syndicate and appointment of of ficials against key positions are the basic requirement s to get NOC by the HEC and registration by the PMDC.

The H EC in a letter to the Punjab government has clearly stated that as a standard procedure it is requested to send complete feasibility report along with approved PC-I of the FJMU containing its academic, physical and financial infrastructure details.

`I would like to inform you thatthe HEC has been empowered by virtue of its Ordinance No LIII of 2002 to prescribe conditions under which Institutions, including those that are not part of the State educational system, may be opened and operated across the country under the criteria/guidelines for establishment of a new university/degree awarding institution approved by the Federal Cabinet in its meeting held on February 27, 2002,` the accreditation & attestation director of the HEC said.

The health secretary claimed that as the status of the college was upgraded to the level of a degreeawarding varsity, the `HEC can`t instruct the institute to stop classes of the undergraduate students.

These students would continue to get education without any break, he said.

`Efforts are on to send a summary for approval by the chief minister to complete nominations for Syndicate,` Mr Malik said, adding that some nominations were to be sent by the institute while other by the government. He said all top positions would be filled without delay.