LAHORE: Punjab University syndicate meeting on Saturday approved Rs 7.727 billion budget for the year 2016-17. Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran presided over the syndicate meeting. The university expects a total grant of Rs 2.445 billion from Higher Education Commission, 33 percent of the total budget. In order to encourage research activities, the university has increased research grant from Rs 110 million to Rs 120 million. The syndicate approved the proposal of university authorities, which recommended not increasing tuition fee of on-campus university students. The syndicate also approved recommendations to complete university selection board and approved increments of teachers on tenure track system. The university also announced to continue facilitating Balochi students by offering free education, free boarding facilities and Rs 3,000 stipend per month (each student) in the next year. According to other salient features of the budget, special students would also be provided with free education along with boarding facilities while students taking admission on sports basis would be provided with free education. The university would continue to waive off tuition fee of Hafiz-e-Quran. The university has also allocated Rs 70 million for overseas scholarships and Rs 70 million for participation in national and international conferences. In order to facilitate students, Punjab University is providing funds of Rs 100 million to its students in terms of scholarships, student affairs and career counseling and other activities. Moreover, HEC scholarships worth Rs 80 million and Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) scholarships would also be provided to students. Punjab University is providing Rs 200 million as hostel subsidy, Rs 33 million transport subsidy and Rs 6.5 million as internet subsidy to students. The net subsidy on the mentioned services has been increased from Rs 221 million to Rs 230 million and in addition to the above, subsidy on electricity bills in teaching departments is also being provided. PU has allocated Rs 410 million for development projects. The syndicate also approved anticipator orders of the vice chancellor.