Committee Calls For Urgent Measures To Bring University Sector Out Of Financial Crisis

Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology Monday urged the present government to take urgent measures for bringing the university sector out of financial crisis which is damaging the progress of higher education sector

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2019 ):Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology Monday urged the present government to take urgent measures for bringing the university sector out of financial crisis which is damaging the progress of higher education sector.

In the meeting chaired by Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan here, the members said the present government earlier claimed to invest in the social sectors especially health and education but these sectors are totally neglected.

The cut in the budgetary allocations of Higher Education Commission (HEC) has ultimately created financial issues for the top universities of the countries like National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI).

The committee was briefed by Rector CUI, Professor Dr. Raheel Qamar about the achievements, projects and issues of the university.

Rector CUI conveyed to the committee that CUI being one of the top universities of the country is diligently focusing on research, innovation and commercialization.

The rector informed that CUI is facing severe financial crunch due to cut in budgetary allocations from HEC. The university has taken several austerity measures by imposing cut on travel grants, conferences, convocation, research support and utilities; however, this is not a permanent solution.

He said the university cannot raise the fee for overcoming the budgetary issues as it did earlier and faced severe backlash from the students and parents. Similarly, increasing intake of the students meant for compromising the quality of education.

The university is even unable to manage the salaries of its employees and faculty members, he lamented.

The rector also mentioned the obstacles being faced by the university in commercialization of its products, non- implementation of the idea of virtual education and inability to arrange convocation due to shortage of funds etc.

The committee expressed displeasure over this entire situation and recommended to ensure presence of Chairman HEC, Minister of Education and Professional Training, Minister for Science and Technology and a representative from Ministry of Finance in the next meeting to come up with a viable strategy to resolve financial issues of the universities.

The committee also expressed its annoyance over absence of Minister of Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry in the meeting.

"Standing committees are the ears and eyes of the parliament and the presence of members especially Minister for Science and Technology is must for resolving the issues pertaining to the institutions working under the ministry", the members said.

In this regard, the committee unanimously passed a resolution and resolved to cancel the next meeting as a protest, if the minister will not come. "The concerned minister remain available for media all the time but he has no time to attend such an important meeting", one of the members observed.

Senators including Sassui Palijo, Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah and others attended the meeting.