The Higher Education Commission HEC has brought revolutionary changes in the higher education sector of Pakistan and this commendable work should continue in the larger interest of the people of Pakistan.
This was stated by Leader of the Upper House Senator Jehangir Badar during his visit to the HEC office on Wednesday. He said Pakistan People’s Party was committed to promoting higher education in Pakistan. “Realising the importance of higher education for the socio-economic development of the country, Pakistan People’s Party founder Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto established University Grants Commission (UGC) as a federal body”, he added.
He emphasised the need to bring about a knowledge-based change which will be greatly helpful for the socio-economic uplift of the people. He also suggested that a parliamentary caucus representing all political parties could be established to assist in resolving the issues being faced by the education sector, including higher education. He assured his utmost cooperation to resolve the current problems of the higher education sector in Pakistan.
Earlier, HEC Chairperson Dr Javaid R Laghari welcomed Senator Jehangir Badar and gave a detailed presentation on the composition, working and achievements of the HEC.
He said that the establishment of the HEC in 2002 heralded a revolution in higher education in Pakistan, which has been recognised throughout the world. The HEC has accomplished more in nine years since its establishment than was achieved in the first 55 years of Pakistan’s existence. He stated that as an outcome of the these reforms, six Pakistani universities now rank among the top 300 Asian universities and two Pakistani universities now rank among the top 300 science and technology institutions of the world.
He revealed that Pakistani universities have produced more PhDs in the last 9 years (3,950) since the establishment of the HEC than in the first 55 years (3,280). “Pakistan today is a regional leader in ICTs which other countries are following. The digital library provides access to 75% of the world’s literature (23,000 e-journals and 45,000 e-books). Advanced study centers in water, energy and agriculture have been established with the help of USAID. The centers in priority areas for economic development of Pakistan are located at major research universities across the country,” he added.
“65 per cent of total HEC funding is being invested in the human resource development so that a critical mass of experts may be produced to contribute to the development of the country. So far, more than 10,000 inland and foreign scholarships have been awarded. Each week about 15 scholars are completing their PhD and being placed by HEC at higher education institutors throughout the country,” he concluded.
