A private poultry operation has been reported inside the government building of the Electrical Engineering Department at Punjab University, where government employees are allegedly assigned to care for the birds during duty hours.
According to the information, the Director of the Electrical Engineering Department has kept private chickens on the department’s rooftop and lawn, with poultry enclosures reportedly constructed on the roof of the government building.
It was further reported that a fence costing Rs. 500,000 was installed around the lawn to protect the chickens. The installation of the fence has also blocked the route used by male and female students to access the university’s central library.
The report further alleged that government employees of the department have been assigned to look after the private chickens. During the summer, the chickens were reportedly moved from the rooftop into the hall of the Electrical Engineering Department building.
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According to the report, the chickens were also provided with cooling through government-owned air conditioners and coolers, while poultry feed was allegedly stored inside a classroom.
Responding to the matter, a Punjab University spokesperson told Express News that keeping private chickens in the Electrical Engineering Department is not permitted and that the university would look into the issue.
The department’s director, however, told Express News that the chickens had been kept to provide students, particularly female students, with a natural environment. He added that more birds would be introduced in the future to further enhance the natural surroundings.
