Irfan Siddiqui seeks details of universities being funded by HEC & to examine the measures taken for their Financial Independency

ISLAMABAD, May 18 (SABAH): Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held here at Parliament House on Thursday with Senator Irfan Siddiqui in Chair.

The Senate Committee was briefed on the current status of fourteen Pakistan’s Chairs abroad, which have been lying vacant in different academic institutions from the last 14 years. Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, Secretary Federal Education and Professional Training, apprised that the revised MoU, approved by the Cabinet, has been sent to 9 universities for their rectification. However, the approved MoU have been rectified by the Iran and Kazakhstan universities, therefore the vacant chairs in the said counties will be advertised soon, he added. The Chairman Committee directed the ministry to devise a comprehensive plan to fill up the vacant Chairs in the other countries. He also directed that all vacant chairs shall be filled in the next three months and requested Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad to follow up the process on priority basis.

The Senate body also taken up the matter of Peshawar University, which was closed due to death incident of security incharge. Dr. Idrees, VC of Peshawar University, apprised that the culprit has been taken into custody and a committee has been constituted to probe the matter. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi stated that the faculty members and students have raised objections over the composition of committee and held protests but unfortunately, the university didn’t make any effort for the resolution of the matter.

The Chairman Committee directed the Vice Chancellor to submit reply, in writing, to allegations raised by Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi in the next meeting. Senator Irfan Siddiqui also directed the Chairman HEC to submit details of universities, funded by the HEC, and the measures taken so far by the said universities for their financial independency.

Furthermore, the committee discussed the Bill titled “The University of Management and Technology Lahore, Bill,2023” moved by Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim. The Chairman inquired as to whether the prerequisites for the said universities have been completed or not. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad, Chairman HEC, stated that University of Management and Technology is an autonomous institution and the university under the same name could not be established in Islamabad Capital. Moreover, the committee unanimously disposed of the ‘Harbour Institute of Management Sciences and Technology Bill’, ‘The Orient Institute of Science and Technology Gwadar Bill’ and ‘The Ala-Ala University Bill’ because the movers failed to make appearance for the two consecutive times.

While deliberating the issue of National Council Pakistan Bill, Chairman HEC mentioned that Technology Council has been established but it’s charter has not approved yet and the approval of said charter is required for becoming the member of Sydney Accord. He further added that the charter of Technology Council is lying in Council of Common Interest for approval. The Committee decided to write a letter to Council of Common Interest to expedite the matter.

Senator Irfan Siddiqui also raised the matter of female teachers who have been removed from their jobs after serving 7 to 8 years in academic institutions. He was of opinion that substitute jobs opportunities should be provided to them so that their experiences in the field of teaching should not go wasted.

The meeting was attended by Senator Engr. Rukhsana Zuberi, Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmad, Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim, Senator Jam Mahtab Hussain Dahar, Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, Secretary Federal Education Waseem Ajmal Chaudhary, Chairman HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad and other senior officers of relevant departments were also in attendance.