F.P. Report
KOHAT: A report from Governor’s secretariat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa title “Prosperity through Numbers: A Fiscal Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities 2021-2024” was published about the financial sustainability of the public sector universities of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The report was based on the assessment of the budget report over the last three years (2021-2024) for urgent attention and concerted efforts for those Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of the providence that at risk of bankruptcy because of poor performance in academics, finances as well as administrative affairs. Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST) shines under the esteem leadership of Prof. Dr. Sardar Khan, Vice Chancellor in the report as per the figures mentioned.
KUST budget is surplus and not included in the list of universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa having “Opening Deficits in Budget”. Furthermore, the university is not in the “Anticipated Budget Deficit in 2023-24” among the 20 universities of the province declared as “At Risk”. KUST is also not among the 22 universities in the province with “Potential Deficits”.
KUST has increased students enrollment therefore not included in the list of universities in the province having decreasing trend in enrollment at undergraduate and graduate programs. Furthermore KUST is not among the universities in the province with “Under Performing Assets” and “Asset Distribution Issues”. In short good performance in academics and administrative affairs under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Sardar Khan, Vice Chancellor has enabled to be the most financially stable university of the area.
The major steps taken by the vice chancellor by optimizing resource utilization, by fostering research-driven innovations, starting new programs along with their alignment as per market demands, solarization of the whole campus, digitization of the campus through indigenously developed campus management system, strengthening ORIC by activating collaboration with international entities etc.
KUST being ranked as 5th in the province by UIGreen Metric World University Ranking and at 6th in the province by TIMES World University Ranking is yet another indicator and validation for the university performing well in academics and research also. Under the leadership of incumbent Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Sardar Khan, the enrollment of the university increased up to 55% in the last three (03) years.
The step taken by the Vice Chancellor for solarization of the whole campus (840 Kilowatts of electricity generation) from university own finances has impacted the financial resources utilization for payment of electricity bills of the campus and consider as an indicator of a good financial management and governance.
During the last three years, the financial resources of the university are enhanced by 85 % (highest level in the history of KUST). This is yet another achievement and validation of the Prof. Dr. Sardar Khan efforts for implementing the best financial practices at KUST that has resulted in financial sustainability of university when most of the universities in province and country and are at the verge of bankruptcy.
Other achievements of the incumbent Vice Chancellor includes Implementation of “KUST Welfare and Insurance Fund” from all the employees of the university as per statutes 2016 along with being the leading university in the province to adoption Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) upon the directives of Chancellor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at KUST through statutory bodies. The faculty member, administrative and support staff along with students have congratulated Vice Chancellor and his team and hope that the university will further excel under his leadership and will be one of the leading universities of the country.
