ISLAMABAD, July 16: The University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday issued a list of universities and institutions which are chartered to award degrees by the federal and provincial governments.

According to the UGC, there are as many as 77 universities and institutions (42 in public and 35 in private sector) which are chartered to award degrees.

A number of institutions have been advertising in the press that they either represent foreign universities or are the sub- campuses, as well as have a degree awarding status.

Some even use the name of the UGC in their advertisements.

The universities and institutions in public sector which are chartered to award degrees by the federal and provincial governments are: Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad; Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; Bahria University, Islamabad; Balochistan University of Engineering and Technology, Khuzdar; Comsats Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad; Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi; Gomal University, D.I. Khan; Government College, Lahore; Hazara University, Mansehra; Institute of Business Administration, Karachi; International Islamic University, Islamabad; Islamia University, Bahawalpur; Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat; Lahore College for Women, Lahore; Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro; Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro; Military College of Engineering, Risalpur Cant; National College of Arts, Lahore; National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad; National University of Sciences and Technology, Rawalpindi; NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi; NWFP University of Agriculture, Peshawar; NWFP University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar; Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad; Pakistan Military Academy, Abbottabad; Pakistan Naval Academy, Karachi; Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad; Quaid-i-Awam University of Engineering, Sciences and Technology, Nawabshah; Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur; Sindh Agriculture University, Tando Jam; University of Agriculture, Faisalabad; University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi; University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffarabad; University of Balochistan, Quetta; University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore; University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila; University of Karachi; University of Malakand, Dir; University of Peshawar; University of the Punjab, Lahore; University of Sindh, Jamshoro; University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore.

Universities and degree awarding institutions in the private sector are: Aga Khan University, Karachi; Al-Kahir University, AJK; Baqai Medical University, Karachi; CECOS University of Information Technology and Emerging Sciences, Peshawar; City University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar; Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Topi; Greenwich University, Karachi; Hamdard University, Karachi; Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi; Institute of Business Management, Karachi; Imperial College of Business Studies, Lahore; Institute of Lahore; Institute of Management and Technology, Lahore; Institute of Management Sciences, Lahore; Iqra University, Karachi; Isra University, Hyderabad; Jinnah University for Women, Karachi; Karachi Institute of Economics and Technology, Karachi; Khadim Ali Shah Bokhari (KASB) Institute of Technology, Karachi; Lahore School of Economics, Lahore; Lahore University of Management Sciences, Lahore; Mohiuddin Islamic University, AJK; Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, Karachi; National University Computer and Emerging Sciences, Islamabad; National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore; Newport Institute of Communications and Economics, Karachi; Preston Institute of Management, Science and Technology, Karachi; Qurtuba University of Science and Information Technology, D.I. Khan; Sarhad University of Science and Information Technology, Peshawar; Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi; Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi; Syed Ali Hajvery Institute of Technology and Management Sciences, Lahore; Textile Institute of Pakistan Karachi; University of Central Punjab, Lahore; Zia-ud-din Medical University, Karachi.

The UGC clarified that many Pakistani institutions were also aggressively marketing degree programmes of foreign universities without any authorization.

The UGC has allowed Karachi Institute of Information Technology (KIIT) to run degree programmes in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield, England which is an accredited University of UK.

Similarly, Griffith College Dublin Karachi Campus is allowed to run national certificate and degree programmes of the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA), Ireland under joint collaboration between the Academic Services Pakistan, Karachi and the Griffith College, Ireland.

Ziauddin Medical University, Karachi is running one year Master of Public Health degree programme in collaboration with Wollongong University, Australia after the approval of the UGC and Government of Pakistan. Wollongong University is an accredited University of Australia.

Ibadat Foundation or Ibadat Educational Trust (IET) Islamabad is allowed to run undergraduate degree programme in collaboration with Western Michigan University which is an accredited University of the US.

The UGC has advised the public, parents and students to contact UGC director (A&C) Mohammad Javed Khan on telephone No. (051) 9257508 or fax No. (051) 9290128; Email:ugc@isb.paknet.com.pk for further information.—APP