LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences’ (UHS) Board of Governors (BoG) on Monday approved a budget of Rs 895.7 million for the financial year 2016-17. The 36th meeting of the UHS Board, chaired by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, was held on Monday. Other members who attended the meeting included Prof Malik Hussain Mubbashar, Zarine Aziz, UHS Vice Chancellor Maj Gen (r) Prof Muhammad Aslam and representatives of provincial health and finance departments. UHS VC Maj Gen (r) Prof Muhammad Aslam apprised the board of the progress of the university during last one year with special focus on Kala Shah Kaku Campus on which the work was taken at hand. The board was also apprised that the university had maintained its position in Higher Education Commission’s ranking for 2015 and was among the top 10 universities of Pakistan. The UHS VC said that the university had been given a lead role in higher education with regards to capacity building in dental, nursing and allied health sciences. Ishaq Dar on the occasion urged the university authorities to maintain highest standards so that the field of medicine and health, which was one of the top most priorities of the present government, could be improved and affordable medical facilities could be provided to the common man. The finance minister said that although government was focusing primarily on ‘Three Es’ (economy, energy and extremism), it has increased the budgetary allocation for health and education. According to budget estimates of the UHS, Rs 41.5 million have been earmarked for research purposes. Out of it, Rs 15 million have been allocated for the grant of scholarship to research scholars, Rs 5 million for purchase of chemicals, reagents, glassware and specialised kits, and Rs 21 million have been allocated for lab equipment and machinery. An amount of Rs 0.5 million would be spent on research surveys and exploratory operations. Similarly, Rs 88.785 million have been allocated for operating expenses that includes utilities (Rs 15.3 million), communications (Rs 8.03 million), travel and transportation (Rs 11.155 million) and general expenses (Rs 53.7 million). An amount of Rs 203.439 million have been reserved for employee related expenses. The board approved 10 percent ad-hoc relief allowance announced by the government for the employees. An amount of Rs 454.620 million would be spent on development activities, which include civil works at Kala Shah Kaku Campus (Rs 415 million), purchase of machinery (Rs 21 million), and furniture and fixture (Rs 8 million). UHS would spend Rs 104 million on the conduct of examinations and Rs 1.5 million on continued professional development of the medical faculty. A sum of Rs one million has been allocated for international linkages and Rs one million for the introduction of new academic programmes during the year 2016-17.