Govt Approves Rs 410 Mln For Establishment Of Seerat Chairs At Universities

The Federal Government has approved a project of Rs 410 million for the the establishment of nine Seerat Chairs on different themes in public sector universities, located in different regions across the country.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Apr, 2018 ) :The Federal Government has approved a project of Rs 410 million for the the establishment of nine Seerat Chairs on different themes in public sector universities, located in different regions across the country.

According to the official sources on Tuesday, in this regard, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) has prepared a project titled "Establishment of Seerat Chairs in Public Sector Universities". Earlier, this project was approved by Central Development Working Party (CDWP) in 2014 at a capital cost of Rs.189.980 million, however; in 2017 it was revised with capital cost of Rs.

410.081 million, the sources added. They said that the purpose of establishing these chairs is to focus on the prevalent challenges being faced by the country and provide appropriate guidance in light of research, on the different aspects of the life of Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'Alayhi WaSallam).

The guidance would be taken from the different aspects of the life of Holy Prophet (PBUH) including education and knowledge, social justice & welfare, human rights & social justice, leadership & governance, sustainable development, business commerce & property rights, global peace, interfaith and communal harmony, gender studies and rights of women.

The chair has been established in one university i.e University of Peshawar, on the theme of "Interfaith and Communal Harmony". Dr Qibla Ayaz was selected by the Project Steering Committee as head of the said chair, after following relevant procedures/ parameters, the sources informed.

Moreover, the selection against three chairs for three themes i.e. Human Rights & Social Justice, Global Peace and Gender Studies & Rights of Women, is in process and would be finalized in April/May 2018.

The remaining chairs have not yet been established in five universities against five different themes, as no suitable candidate was found against the remaining five themes, they added. Moreover, it was observed that despite advertising the positions of Head of Seerat Chairs twice, almost same candidates applied for the seats and the selection Committee was able to select a few candidates only.

Hence, it was recommended that the Project Steering Committee may be given the responsibility to appoint suitable candidates and to establish remaining Seerat Chairs under their supervision.