Unverified degrees: SBBU students seek registration of pharmacy department

PESHAWAR:

Students of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Sheringal, Upper Dir, are seeking an order from the Peshawar High Court to get the pharmacy department registered with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan. Their attorney, Abdul Latif Afridi, told the court students are concerned over potential problems they encounter while looking for jobs with unverified degrees.

The university was established in 2009 and offers degrees in various disciplines, including pharmacy. The current batch will be the first to graduate with a doctor in pharmacy.

“Final exams for the last semester will start from September 7. However, the department is yet to be registered with the PCP,” Afridi said. He contended if the students get degrees from the department without registration, they will not be able to get a job in the field. “The reason is clear. The degree would not be considered valid sans registration,” he added.

He requested the court to direct the university to register the department with the PCP. He also requested the examination be delayed until this issue is resolved.

A single-member bench of Justice Irshad Qaiser issued a notice to the vice chancellor and registrar of the university to respond to the petition in writing before the next hearing. PCP is responsible for registering and regulating pharmacists and all other pharmaceutical affairs as well as promote pharmacy education in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2015.