UO admissions surge 310% in two years

UO admissions surge 310% in two years

The University of Okara (UO) has witnessed a 310 percent rise in student admissions over the past two years, enrolling 7,085 students in the current fall semester, according to a progress report presented at its 30th Syndicate meeting on Monday.

Punjab Higher Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat chaired the meeting at the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) committee room. University Registrar Jamil Asim presented the agenda, while Deputy Director Press, Media and Publications Sharjeel Ahmed briefed participants on the university’s performance over the last two years.

The minister praised Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sajjad Mubin and Registrar Jamil Asim for improving admissions, strengthening finances, maintaining financial discipline, ensuring transparent recruitment and expanding campus infrastructure.

According to the report, the university launched 13 infrastructure projects worth Rs440 million during the period. These include a central mosque, the first floor of Academic Block-III, 12 apartments and 12 houses for faculty and administrative staff, an indoor cricket arena, a boundary wall, the second floor of an academic block and a walking track.

The university also significantly reduced its expenditure on visiting faculty, bringing the annual financial burden down from Rs278 million to Rs18 million. The administration achieved the reduction by rationalising workloads, recruiting regular faculty, introducing a centralised timetable and engaging teaching fellows and teaching coordinators.

Rana Sikandar Hayat noted that the provincial government’s annual recurring grant for the university had increased from Rs50 million to around Rs500 million.

During the meeting, the Syndicate approved Selection Board recommendations for 62 new faculty and administrative positions, along with two faculty promotion cases under the Tenure Track System (TTS). Members also approved the proposed affiliation of public-sector colleges and the transfer of two commerce colleges to the university, including their assets and liabilities.

The minister announced that the government would provide a Pink Electric Bus to the university. He further said Chief Minister Punjab had approved an overhead bridge near the campus gate facing the National Highway to improve access for students and staff.

The meeting was attended by Additional Secretary Universities Zahida Azhar; Prof. Dr. Adeel Akram, Vice Chancellor of the Punjab Tianjin University of Technology, Lahore; former federal secretary Mazhar Ali Khan; MPAs Mian Muhammad Munir, Javed Allo Ud Din and Motiya Begum; Dr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya, Pro-Rector of the University of Lahore; UO Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Wajid; former BISE Faisalabad chairperson Dr. Tayyabah Shaheen; Lahore College of Education Principal Ghulam Arshad Chaudhary; business entrepreneur Nazir Akhtar; and representatives of the provincial law and finance departments.