The Higher Education Commission (HEC) was saved from being brutally mauled and its autonomy shattered by wise and timely intervention by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. On December 17, the Court upheld my petition and declared that the intervention from the prime minister’s office to appoint the executive director of the HEC was illegal. The Court also ruled that only the 18-member HEC had the legal powers to do this. Earlier, on November 26, the Prime Minister’s Secretariat had issued an order that had appointed a retired army major, currently secretary of the Ministry of Education, as executive director of the HEC with immediate effect.
The HEC has performed a truly remarkable role in improving Pakistan’s higher education sector in its short ten-year history. Most of this progress occurred during 2003-2008 when higher education programmes were liberally funded. This has been brought out by a number of independent international experts who have regarded the performance of the higher education sector as a model of excellence to be emulated in other developing countries. A comprehensive report was published by USAID after a year-long independent review of the progress made by the higher education sector during 2002-2008. It said: “One of the most striking aspects of the HEC since its inception is the emphasis on excellence and high quality in every sphere of its activities ... Quality goal targets were set as international standards and expectations. Faculty promotions, publications, PhD dissertations, research grants, and many of the HEC programmes were subject to these standards including evaluation by external peer reviewers.”
Another comprehensive review of Pakistan’s higher education system was done by Professor Michael Rode, chairman of the United Nations’ Commission on Science, Technology and Development, who visited Pakistan on a number of occasions. He wrote in 2008: “Around the world when we discuss the status of higher education in different countries, there is unanimity of opinion that the developing country that has made the most rapid progress internationally in recent years is Pakistan. In no other country has the higher education sector seen such spectacular positive developments as that in Pakistan during the last six years. After the formation of the Higher Education Commission, a silent revolution occurred and probably the best digital library in the world was set up in Pakistan. Such a nationwide access to the latest literature is not even available in Europe or the US today ... Most universities in Pakistan are today equipped with video-conferencing facilities and lectures are delivered regularly by professors from top universities in Europe, the US, etc.”
At the heart of the current problem lay the reappointment of Dr Sohail Naqvi, the brilliant executive director of the HEC. I had discovered him when I was the federal minister of science & technology and he was working at an MP-1 post in the IT and Telecommunication Division that was a part of the science ministry. Later, when I became the HEC chairman, he moved there and played a major role in its remarkable transformation. Dr Akram Sheikh was the first executive director of the HEC and later became the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. In both those roles, he, too, played an important part in the transformation of Pakistan’s higher education sector. Indeed, had Dr Sheikh not enthusiastically approved various key projects linked to higher education under his time at the Planning Division, the ‘silent revolution’ of the higher education sector would not have occurred. Projects of over Rs100 billion were approved and students sent abroad in the thousands. They are now contributing to the rapidly-changing landscape of our universities.
Disheartened by the recent turn of events, Dr Sohail Naqvi may not continue to remain with the HEC. This would be an irreparable loss to the Commission and bring to a sad end a decade of remarkable progress. The wonderful and enthusiastic contributions of Dr Naqvi, often under very adverse circumstances, will always be remembered.
In a country where corrupt politicians are making hay while the sun shines, there is no place for education, science, technology and innovation. The farce of democracy is, indeed, revenge against the poor and illiterate people of Pakistan. The industrial sector lies devastated because of massive corruption in the power sector and many industrialists have shifted operations to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries.
It is wonderful that there is at least one institution that stands in the way of this destruction — our Supreme Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 21st, 2012.
COMMENTS (12)
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@Mehran...You want to devolve HEC to provinces so that the state of HIgher Education will be like province's colleges and schools. Where marriages are organised in schools? No doubt the credit goes to Mr. Musharraf, he did the brilliant job and we owe him HEC. He was the real leader and gave free hand to Dr. Atta. Dr. Naqvi did remarkable job in last 10 years and HEC is the baby of Dr. Atta and Dr. Naqvi.
Yes he was founder of HEC and his suggestion were supported by Musharraf like he did Mustafa Kamal. Now that we have enough phds so switch focus to MS thus cost will reduce to one forth. Good MPhils will get Phd scholarship from abroad.
After 18th Amendment, one cant deny rights of provinces and autonomy and it demands devolution of HEC to respective provinces. Pls dont violate rights of provinces and let HEC devolve to respective provinces as promised in 18the amendment.
@Ahmad Farooq Sultan
Creation of "Endowment Fund" will help augment the financial resources of HEC and provide more opportunities to the students from middle class families to pursue their doctorate and post doctorate studies. It is due to the untiring efforts of HEC that Pakistan has thousand of PHDs now.
Well done Dr sahib. While fighting on all fronts for the continued glory of HEC, I am of the opinion to set up an "Endowment Fund" for HEC; asking all Pakistanies including overseas Pakistanies to generously contribute for the spread of higher education in Pakistan. Please invite all prominent Pakistanies from all segments of political fronts to come forward for success of higher education. Let all Pakistanies come forward and start contributing at least one rupee per day and expatriates to share one US$ per day. All contributions be placed on the HEC website.Arrangements be made that students who get benefitted from the said Endowment Fund to return funds spent on their education as and when they start earning.
When Mr. Atta ur Rehman mentioned the year 2003-2008 as the most progressive years for HEC, that is a credit to Musharraf. I don't know why people hesitate mentioning his name for the good works he done during his tenure as President of Pakistan. SAB SE PEHLE PAKISTAN
Justice does not come to you, you have to take justice. And we took it from PPP.
glad to hear that!
Bravo Dr Atta Ur Rahman !
I could not have agreed with you more. Thank you for your services and input in HEC.
Not even a single word of appreciation for Musharraf who too shudbe credited along with Dr Atta
Is it not rather too much of untiring and unrestrained self-praise ? Did not expect a mature scientist to be so egotistical and full of himself . Dr Sahib is drowning all objective and impartial critiques of HEC work by a massive media blitzkrieg . Please allow some space for dissenting voices .