KARACHI – Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Saturday presided a meeting of vice chancellors of Sindh’s public sector universities at the CM House. The meeting was briefed that after approval of 18th amendment, education is a provincial subject and educational institutions including universities are under provincial government set-up.
The chief minister addressing the meeting said that not only 18th amendment, even long ago under federal list number 1, concurrent list, education is a provincial subject. He said that constitution is a supreme document with fundamental rights, which can not be over-written except any amendment by the parliament.
He said that the federal list number 2 is with Council of Common Interests under the head of Prime Minister. Regarding autonomy of universities, he added that universities possess full autonomy under constitution. Regarding allocation of funds/budget, Syed Qaim Ali Shah said that with regard to all the subjects which are to be devolved, the federal government has consulted with provinces about allocation of fund reflected in budget.
He made it clear that till the process of devolution is completed, federal government will be responsible for the provision of funds for the next 2 years. He stressed upon the vice chancellors that there should be no apprehension about funds. He said that as a CM Sindh, he takes the responsibility that in case the Federal Government does not provide funds; the provincial government will ensure provision of funds.
Shah said that overall funding including on-going schemes of various projects and regular recurring expenditure amount will be ensured by the federal government. Senior Minister Education Pir Mazharul Haq, Sindh Law Minister Muhammad Ayaz Soomro, Secretary Law Syed Ghulam Nabi Shah, Secretary Education Ms Naheed Shah Durrani elaborated and highlighted the contents of legal provisions with regard to university affairs after devolution.
All vice chancellors fully expressed their satisfaction and confidence in the leadership of CM Sindh and said that they will work hard for the furtherance, expansion, promotion and encouragement of education in their respective Universities and educational institutions.
Those who attended the meeting included Chief Secretary Sindh Abdul Subhan Memon, Secretary to CM Sindh, Alamuddin Bullo, Secretary Inter-provincial Coordination, VC University of Sindh Jamshoro Dr Nazeer Mughal, Mehran Engg University Jamshoro VC Dr Abdul Qadeer Rajput, VC LUMHS Jamshoro Prof Noshad Shaikh, VC Karachi University Peerzada Qasim, VC Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Liyari Karachi, RA Shah and vice chancellors of other public sector universities.
