Medical admissions: HEC seeks Faculty of Health Sciences records

LAHORE: The Higher Education of Pakistan (HEC) has sought a complete records from the Punjab University (PU) over its controversial announcement of admissions to various medical programmes at its newly-announced Faculty of Health Sciences.

HEC has asked the university to produce complete records for the establishment of the new faculty at its campus, including approvals from statutory bodies as well as physical and academic facilities necessary for the establishment of a new faculty.

According to a letter sent by HEC Accreditation and Attestation Department, PU had been asked to produce all records after the varsity announced admissions to the medical and allied health sciences programmes. The varsity had invited candidates for admissions through an advertisement.

The letter directed the varsity to submit its response by October 15, 2017. However, when contacted, HEC Media Director Aayesha Ikram told The Express Tribune that the varsity had yet to submit its response.

PU Provisional VC Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir was contacted for comments but could not be reached. PU Spokesperson Khurram Shahzad said, “Starting the Allied Health Sciences programmes is an initiative of the VC. It is his mission to provide quality education to poor students of the country and he has worked tirelessly towards this goal”.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2017.