The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to set up own provincial higher education council (PHEC) having full financial and administrative autonomy to look after the affairs of public sector universities, Minister for Higher Education Qazi Mohammad Asad told the provincial assembly on Friday.
He maintained that like the Centre the KP government would provide “one line” budget to the proposed council. Speaker Kiramatullah Chagharmati presided over the proceedings.
Winding up debate on the devolution of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Mr Asad said that the proposed council would follow the vision and model of Dr Attaur Rehman, the architect of the HEC. He said that vice chancellors of the universities had supported formation of the council, adding that the province had the capacity and financial resources to run the body.
The minister said that the government would not compromise on quality of education and research and would improve its standard. He said that the HEC was receiving one line budget from the federal government and the commission established its credibility because of the huge grant.
He said told the house that Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti had assured the vice chancellors of the universities of provision of funds in bulk. He stated that the provincial government had released Rs240 million for PhD scholarships during the current financial year.
He said that a body would be set up at the central level in Islamabad after the HEC devolution which would look after research in the public sector universities across the country.
Mr Asad said that a wrong perception was created that research process in universities would be wound up after the HEC devolution. He said that the provincial government provided land, funds and made legislation for the universities and it was fully capable of managing the affairs related to the higher education. He said that the government would also encourage private sector universities.
Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain suggested that the assembly should pass a unanimous resolution in favour of the HEC devolution. Dawn
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