From Challenges to Change: Shah A Latif University Senate Sets Bold New Course for Governance, Academic Excellence and Financial Stability at Session Presided Over by Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo

From Challenges to Change: Shah A Latif University Senate Sets Bold New Course for Governance, Academic Excellence and Financial Stability at Session Presided Over by Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s Vision is to Bring Higher Education Closer to Every Student,” Says Minister Muhammad Ismail Rahoo at Shah Abdul Latif University Senate.
Minister, Secretary Universities & Boards, Vice Chancellor SMBBMU Larkana and Eminent Senate Members Laud SALU Leadership for Steering University Towards Financial and Academic Stability.
Press Release
Dated: August 24, 2026
The 26th Senate Meeting of Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur, was held at the University’s Benazir Chair under the chairmanship of the Pro-Chancellor and Minister for Universities and Boards, Mr. Muhammad Ismail Rahoo.
The meeting was attended by several notable figures from the academic and administrative sectors, including Naheed Shah; Vice Chancellor of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU), Larkana, Professor Dr. Nusrat Shah, who joined online; Secretary Universities and Boards Department, Mr. Muhammad Abbas Baloch; representative of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Islamabad, Professor Dr. Syed Ahmed Hussain Shah; and other members, including Amjad Ali Jalalani, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar, Chairman BISE Sukkur Professor Zahid Ali Chanar, Latifan Khatoon Dharejo, Mr. Mukhtiar Malik, and Chairman SBTE Karachi Mushraf Ali Rajpoot, among other distinguished attendees.
Minister Mr. Muhammad Ismail Rahoo highlighted the Sindh Government’s vision to expand access to higher education by establishing more universities closer to students, describing it as a priority of Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “International crises have affected us, and we could not include new schemes because of these challenges. Despite this, we have increased the budget for universities because the Sindh Government gives greater priority to education,” he added.
The Minister also spoke about the transformative role of universities: “When students come to university, it transforms and trains them. It is the duty of all universities and teachers to work on increasing their students’ skills and preparing them for society. The Sindh Government is fully supportive of you.”
Secretary Universities and Boards Department, Mr. Muhammad Abbas Baloch, appreciated Vice Chancellor SALU Professor Dr. Yousuf Khushk for leading the University towards progress and success, noting that a new initiative to digitize degrees and other records is underway.
He added that the University’s ranking is improving and that it is now the third-largest university in Sindh province. “There is no compromise on education. It is collective work,” he said.
Naheed Shah and Professor Dr. Nusrat Shah also commended the Vice Chancellor’s effective management and appreciated the progress made by the University, while thanking the Minister and Secretary for their continued support to SALU.
In his welcome address, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Yousuf Khushk welcomed the Senate members, describing the Senate as the highest statutory forum for advancing quality education and expressing appreciation for its guidance.
Dr. Khushk highlighted the University’s progress, noting that SALU serves thousands of students and has undergone significant digital transformation. He reported that faculty members have published more than 581 research papers in reputable journals and that the University has signed 15 Memorandums of Understanding with national and international universities and organizations. He added that academic services have also been digitalized.
He acknowledged the Minister’s consistent support for the University, recalling that before the current administration took charge, SALU faced serious financial difficulties, including challenges in the payment of salaries and pensions. “The University had a deficit of Rs. 886 million, which we have reduced to Rs. 305 million,” he said.
Dr. Khushk further reported that the University has cleared long-pending liabilities dating back to 2022. He noted that group insurance payments, unpaid since 2017, were finally settled by October 2025. The Vice Chancellor also informed the House that, despite these financial challenges, the University successfully deposited Rs. 111.5 million in its Endowment Fund. More than Rs. 70 million in scholarships were provided to students during the last year. He thanked Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah for providing an additional grant of Rs. 200 million under the commutation head during the current year.
On infrastructure and campus development, Dr. Khushk highlighted progress at the University’s Ghotki and Shahdadkot campuses. “We have two campuses, Ghotki and Shahdadkot. For one year, we ran them from the University’s recurring budget. With the support of Chairman Sindh HEC Dr. Tariq Rafi and Secretary Universities and Boards Department Muhammad Abbas Baloch, the Sindh Government now owns and supports both campuses, providing Rs. 55 million for each,” he said. He also thanked the Government of Sindh for its financial support towards the digitalization of SALU’s examination records.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for continued investment in student facilities, guided by transparency and fairness. “It is a collective effort needed from teachers, officers and employees,” he said.
Professor Dr. Wahid Bux Jatoi presented the Annual Reports, while Registrar Muhammad Hassan Halepoto conducted the proceedings. Director Finance Qazi Nizamuddin presented the budget before the Senate members.
The Senate unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting, the HEC policies and the Annual Reports, and expressed collective appreciation for the Vice Chancellor’s leadership in advancing the University.
The Senate considered and approved key statutory, academic, financial and institutional matters. Along with the University’s budget and Annual Report 2025–26, significant academic initiatives were endorsed, including frameworks for Meritorious Professor (BPS-22) and Professor Emeritus, the revised Faculty Exchange Programme, and HEC minimum eligibility criteria for faculty appointments.
In a major step towards future-ready education, the Senate approved the introduction of a mandatory three-credit-hour Artificial Intelligence course across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from Fall 2026. It also adopted important HEC policies relating to graduate and undergraduate education, internships, institutional affiliations, and dual, double and joint degree programmes.
The Senate also approved matters concerning the G.P. Fund, eligibility criteria for Directors of QEC and ORIC, and SOPs for scrutiny of Selection Board applications, further strengthening academic merit, faculty development, transparency and institutional governance at SALU.
Pro-Vice Chancellors Professor Dr. Zia Maqsood, Professor Dr. Wahid Bux Jatoi and Professor Dr. Minhoon Khan Laghari were present, along with Deans Professor Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Mashori, Professor Dr. Noor Ahmed Shaikh, Professor Dr. Mushtaque Ali Jakhrani, Abdul Rehman Bhatti and Professor Dr. Liaquat Ali Chandio, as well as other members of the University and its affiliated colleges.
Media Section
Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur