Financial-Problems

Update: 4 February 2014: increased budget requests to be submitted to HEC and Planning Commission shortly. These should allow for upgradation of all eligible, conversion to Tenure Track, and also additional hires to strengthen the faculty. Several meetings have been held, finances have been examined, a presentation on our financial needs for Planning Minister is under preparation, and financial analysis of budget is under way to examine sources of difficulties and resolve them. (AZ)

Revised budget estimates for next year have been submitted to HEC, in which all financial liabilities created by upgradation of BPS and Tenure Track have been requested for next academic year. With the Planning Minister on our side, it is my hope that we will be able to get the required budget. We are also planning to make several new hires. Also some PC-1 have been submitted to get additional funding.

The faculty survey showed that financial problems were of top priority. To resolve this problem, a meeting of Financial Planning Committee was held with Treasurer. Accounts were examined. It was determined that shortfall in fund was primarily due to two reasons:

· Delays in release of funds from HEC & Planning Commission

· Budget cut of 30% imposed by Government.

ACTION TAKEN: Funds were released last week, and to the best of my knowledge, all overdue payments HAVE BEEN cleared. If any unpaid bills remain, please let me know about it.

ACTION TAKEN: A presentation of PIDE’s utility and functions was made to a Parliamentary committee. They were quite happy with our performance, and strongly recommended restoration of our budget. A letter has been sent to the Planning Comission, detailed the expected budget shortfall and requesting that cuts not be imposed on PIDE. Treasurer will follow up.

· Parliamentary committee recommended that we should open up sub-units in provinces so that all could benefit from the research/teaching potential here. I countered by offering video-conferencing links for collaboration with major universities in the provinces. Need to take action on this front. A Committee will be set up to explore distance learning initiative in both ways – disseminating information and lectures from PIDE, as well as acquiring high quality distance learning courses suitable for our programs.

Some of the members of the Parliamentary committee were interested in visiting PIDE. Idrees Khwaja & Registrar are writing suitable letters of invitation.