According to a letter circulating on the internet, acting vice-chancellor University of Home Economics (UHE) Lahore Dr Faleeha Zahra Kazmi is forcibly collecting money from faculty, students, and staff for university events such as dinners and conferences. More than 80 faculty members of the university have written a letter to the governor of Punjab and the chancellor, demanding an inquiry into the acting vice-chancellor’s corruption. It’s important to note that Dr Faleeha Zahra Kazmi has been given charge of the seat until the permanent appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.
The letter states that the acting vice-chancellor collected Rs 2,000 from each faculty member and Rs 500 from each student for a conference. The same conference also received Rs 1 million from the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC). The vice-chancellor also collected Rs 1,600 from each faculty member and staff member for a reception dinner in her honor. The letter also states that the acting vice-chancellor forcibly collected Rs.5,000 from each faculty member for a Qawwali night for her special guests outside the university. In the past three months, acting vice-chancellor Dr Faleeha Zahra Kazmi has forcibly collected Rs. 8,600 from each faculty member and student.
The faculty members have demanded that the chancellor and governor of Punjab take notice of the forceful collection of money from faculty and students and return the money. They have also stated that collecting money from faculty and students during tough financial times is exploitation. The faculty members have also appealed to the Pro-Chancellor of UHE for intervention.