PM Imran agrees to release Rs20b extra funds for HEC

Acting executive director says they asked for Rs21b to solve financial problems faced by universities

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has agreed to release additional funds worth Rs20 billion for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) as it is facing difficulties in meeting the financial requirements of the country’s universities.

As the government had slashed the HEC budget to Rs87 billion for fiscal year 2019-20 from the previous fiscal’s Rs109 billion, “we are facing a financial crunch in progressing with the development projects and paying staff salaries”, HEC Acting Executive Director Fateh Muhammad Mari told The Express Tribune.

Last month, HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri had met Prime Minister Imran Khan and apprised him of the difficulties being faced by the universities, the acting executive director said, adding that Banuri had requested Premier Imran for additional funds of Rs21 billion. However, the premier directed releasing Rs20 billion.

“The prime minister has given assurances that the HEC budget would not be slashed next year,” said Mari.

Further, he said Rs6 billion funds have been set aside for the Ehsaas programme, under which, 50,000 students studying in nearly 117 universities of the country would be awarded scholarships.

“Provision of laptops to these 50,000 deserving students is also under consideration as they can hardly afford to pay their fees,” said Mari, adding that Rs2.5 billion would be the expenditure for providing free laptops to them.

The acting executive director said work load has eased with the introduction of e-filing.

“The whole HEC system has been shifted to e-filing and apart from a few old files complete office work is being done through e-filing,” said Mari.

In order to address the challenges being faced by universities, he said, there is a dire need to empower the vice chancellor. “The HEC is doing everything in its ambit for the purpose,” he added.

On revival of student unions, Mari said that the National Assembly Standing Committee on Education had recommended them to make amendments to the HEC Act.

However, he said, “Section 10A of the HEC Act contains making regulations a part of our responsibility, so further amendment is not necessary.”

According to an HEC notification, “For evaluation, improvement, and promotion of higher education, research and development, the commission may; (a) formulate policies, guiding principles and priorities for higher education institutions for promotion of socio-economic development of the country; (b) cause evaluation of the performance of institutions; (c) prepare, through consultation with the institutions, plan for the development of higher education and express opinion on all matters relating thereto; and (d) prescribe conditions under which institutions, including those that are not part of the state educational system, may be opened and operated.”