Achieving goals : ‘Local research to solve indigenous problems’

HEC chairman says commission promoting research culture

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is committed to helping Pakistan achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and feels a special sense of responsibility to incorporate the SDGs process into academic activities in Pakistan. This was stated by HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri

He further added that SDGs are meant to lift up the downtrodden communities, pulling them out of poverty and paucity of education. He maintained that HEC plans to establish a regional research fund to promote research culture at the grass roots level which will help people of different districts of Pakistan find solutions to their local problems. The chairman stressed the need for mobilising masses to work on ignored issues which could help resolve their local problems.

Dr Banuri made this statement while talking to a United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) delegation comprising UNICEF Planning Section Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Chief Musarrat Youssuf and Unicef Social Policy Head Dr Luis Gorjon Fernandez.

Dr Banuri briefed the delegation about the major objectives of HEC including progress on increased access, quality and relevance. Since the inception of HEC, Dr Banuri said: “The access rate has increased from 2.5 per cent to 10 per cent and HEC is actively working on improvement in quality and relevance.”

Dr Banuri said HEC values international collaborations for promotion of higher education and research in the country. He said “HEC has developed a number of collaborations with various countries including the United States, China and the United Kingdom.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2018.