The Syndicate of Government College University (GCU) Lahore has waived full tuition fees for physically challenged students, besides approving three new PhD, six MS/MPhil and five BS programs, including BS Computational Statistics and BS Criminology.  In its 72nd meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Omer Chaudhry, the Syndicate also approved the university’s budget of nearly Rs. 3,250 million for 2025–26, along with enhanced support measures for students and employees.

Members of the Punjab Assembly Ms Salma Butt and Mr Sultan Bajwa also attended the meeting, along with other members, including nominees of the Higher Education Commission and of the Punjab Higher Education, Finance and Law & Parliamentary Affairs departments. On the recommendation of the Academic Council, the Syndicate approved new degree programs; BS & PhD Molecular Biology, PhD Accounting and Finance, MPhil Genetics, MS English Linguistics; MS and PhD Pharmacology, MS Artificial Intelligence, BS Computational Statistics, BS Library and Information Sciences, MPhil Peace and Conflict Studies and BS Public Administration.

The Syndicate also approved the inclusion of co-opted members from the industrial and corporate sectors in the Boards of Studies (BoS) of all academic departments to strengthen industry–academia linkages and provide practical insights into evolving market needs.

The meeting also sanctioned increase in quota of seats for students from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries.  The Syndicate also approved diploma and certificate courses in income tax law, banking law, forensic law and criminology, as well as summer workshops and short programs in arts, languages, debates, drama and related fields. It further approved a reduction in PhD fees for university employees, a reduction in fees for overseas students, and lower charges for the university’s day-care centre.

Under a new policy, sports facilities such as the gym, swimming pool and courts will also be available to external members.

For staff welfare, the Syndicate approved the initiation of a health insurance policy for faculty and employees and cleared pending annual and performance-based increments for TTS faculty whose cases had not been processed since 2023. It increased summer-semester remuneration from Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 50,000, enhanced the remuneration of visiting faculty at intermediate and BS levels, and raised late-sitting and off-day remunerations for staff in pay scales 1–16, along with an increase in the breakfast allowance.

Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Prof Dr Babar Aziz, and Registrar, Dr Shaukat Ali, also attended the meeting.