The Second Meeting of the Senate, University of Baltistan was successfully held online through video conference, today on July 25, 2020.

Prof. Dr. Naveed A. Malik, Former Rector, Virtual University & Chairman Senate, UoBS presided over the meeting on video link from Vancouver, Canada.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Naeem Khan, Vice Chancellor; Waseem Ullah Jan, Registrar / Secretary, Senate; Muhammad Younas Jatoi, Treasurer and Muhammad Idrees Abbasi, Project Director, participated in the online Senate Meeting live from UoBS Hussainabad Campus, Skardu.

Renowned philanthropist and former IG Police from GB, Mr. Afzal Ali Shigri, attended the Senate meeting from his office in Islamabad.

HEC nominated Senate Member, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Asif Khan, VC, Peshawer University; Prof. Dr. Naeem Tariq Narejo, HOD & Former Registrar & CE, Sindh University, Jamshoro; Prof. Dr. Farkhanda Manzoor, Former VC & HOD, LCWU, Lahore; Prof. Dr. Muhammad Idrees, Former VC, Hazara University & Professor PU CEMB, Lahore and Prof. Dr. Tauqeer Warraich, Director, University of Mianwali, attended the Senate meeting on video conference from their respective district headquarters.

GB Govt was represented by senior civil servant, Mr. Akhtar Hussain Rizvi, Secretary Education Department, who attended the UoBS Senate meeting for the first time from his office in Gilgit.

Muhammad Younas Jatoi, Treasurer, UOBS & Muhammad Idrees Abbasi, PD, UOBS, attended the Senate meeting as Co-opted Members with the permission of the Chair.

Mr. Wasim Ullah Jan Malik, Registrar, UOBS successfully conducted the proceedings of the meeting as Secretary Senate.

Senate meeting appreciated and praised the "Two Years Performance & Progress Report" given by the Vice Chancellor.

Vice Chancellor highlighted the unique achievements of Baltistan University made in a short period of 2 years, including, Online education, Online examinations, affiliation of seven degree colleges, students winter study tours to national institutions in islamabad, academic linkages & MOUs with national and international universities and NGOs.

VC further briefed about vocational and technical cerificate programs in tourism, mining & minerals, Balti language and culture.

He said that archaeoligical discovery of ancient cross in Skardu valley has been highlighted by top global media from 80 countries around the world.

The house appreciated the early response to Covid-19, including awareness campaign, bulk production of senitizers for community use, provision of Rs.18.0 millions Ehsaas Undergraguate scholarships provided to BS students and agritourism.

VC told that university was successful in holding Annual Convocations in 2018 & 2019 and the forthcoming Convocation-2020 is in pipeline.

UoBS was successful in completing detailed master planning, construction of boundary wall, prequalification of reputed construction companies and firms for the construction of academic and admn blocks in Phase-II.

Vice Chancellor informed the Senate that Baltistan University (including its four affiliated colleges in GB) is the first public sector university in the country, who has completed a full semester online through its own LMS portal, thus successfully completing e-learning, online distance education and online examinations, started on March 13 and ending on July 26, 2020, despite Covid-19 pendamic lockdown and IT connectivity challenges in GB.

Later, on the request of the Chairman, Senate, Vice Chancellor, shared a comprehensive PPT presentation, given to His Excellency, Dr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan & Chancellor, UoBS on June 10, 2020.

The Senate reviewed the performance of the Selection Board / selection process in detail and expressed satisfaction on the process, merit, fairness and transparency of the eligibility criteria, short-listing and interviews. Senate appreciated the involvement of senior Professors from prestigious universities as subject experts. The allocation of marks for academics, interview & interview would be further rationalised.

The Senate unanimously approved the proceedings and recommendations of the Selection Board held on December 23, 24 & 25, 2019 and January 28, 29, 30 & 31, 2020, respectively.

The Senate showed concern on the budgetory cuts by HEC and directed the Treasurer to revise the estimated expenditures to reduce the projected deficit and gap between resources and expenditures during the fiscal year 2020-2021.

The Senate also requested the provincial govt of GB to provide one time budgetory bail out package of Rs. 40 million to Baltistan University as per the precedent provided to KIU, Gilgit.

Senate approved the Technical Allowance for PD in the light of the Notification by GB Finance Department, dated July 3, 2020 and endorsed the recommendations of F&P Committee.

With special permission of Chair, the Project Director, briefed the Senate on the pace of PSDP project. Senate was told that after the completion of Master Plans & building designs, the construction of boundary wall (Phase-I) is near completion.

Similarly, the process of prequalification of firms has been completed and tenders for the Academic & Admn block (Phase-II) would be awarded in August, 2020.

The Senate lauded various successes stories of the university and highly commended the vision, efforts, hard work, enthusiasm, & dedication shown by VC & his energetic team of young officers & faculty.

Vice Chancellor, UOBS thanked the Senate for approval of agenda items.

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chair & Members Senate.