Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Director Dr Sohail Naqvi expressed dissatisfaction over the HEC annual budgetary allocations of Rs 15.8 billion for the year 2012-13, as the commission was expecting a little more allocations as compared to the previous year.
Talking to APP, Dr Sohail Naqvi said last year the commission was given the budget of 14 billion and it faced financial crunch and remained unable to reach the desired goals smoothly.
And this year, the HEC has been given the budget of Rs 15.8 billion against the demand of 21.6 billion, he said.
Dr Sohail Naqvi said less budgetary allocations for HEC will affect its projects especially the ongoing scholarships, infrastructural development of the universities and research initiatives.
According to the budgetary document, an amount of Rs 1,494 million for overseas scholarship for MS/MPhil leading to PhD in the selected fields, Rs 695 million for Human Resource Development Initiative MS Leading to PhD programme of faculty of Development of Engineering Universities, Rs 625 million for PhD Fellowship for 5000 Scholars and Rs 600 million for Strengthening of University of Engineering and Technology Lahore.
An amount of Rs 550 million has been allocated for the establishment of new campus of Jolazai Khyber Pukhtunkhwa University of Engineering and Technology Peshawar, Rs 400 million for Infrastructure Development of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Rs 350 million for Indigenous PhD Fellowship for 5000 scholars and Rs 300 million for Foreign Faculty Hiring Programme and Abdul Wali Khan University each. The Government allocated Rs 250 million for Strengthening of NED University of Engineering and Technology Karachi, Rs 200 million for the Development of Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro and Post Doctoral Fellowship Programme each, Rs 180 million for establishing Women University Multan, Rs 175 for Establishment of a University at Faisalabad and Rs 130 million for Strengthening and Upgradation of UET Taxila.
