.
KARACHI:
The Sindh government has directed all public and private universities across the province to shift classes online for two weeks as part of an austerity and fuel-saving initiative.
According to Sindh Universities and Boards Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahu, the decision has been taken in view of the prevailing global crisis and the government’s broader austerity campaign aimed at saving fuel and cutting expenditures.
Under the directive, all public and private universities as well as degree-awarding institutions have been instructed to move 100 per cent of their academic activities online during the specified period.
The minister said that to control rising expenditures, the government has also decided to reduce fuel allocations for all government departments by 50 per cent for the next two months. Universities have similarly been directed to immediately ground 60 per cent of their official vehicles.
However, he clarified that while teaching activities will shift online, all examinations will continue to be held according to their previously announced schedules.
In addition, the govt has imposed a 20 per cent cut in the Non-ERE (Non-Establishment Related Expenditure) budget for universities.
