ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: The cabinet met for the third consecutive day on Thursday and approved the establishment of the ‘Higher Education Commission’ to guide, support and facilitate the universities.

The HEC will replace the University Grants Commission which had been facing criticism for not catering to the requirements of the universities.

The HEC will also help the degree-awarding institutions and research in certain areas.

Science and Technology Minister Attaur Rehman, who had been working on the HEC project for a long time, has proposed drastic changes in the universities’ syllabus. He is scheduled to give details on the HEC at a news conference on Friday.

According to an official announcement, the HEC will formulate policies, curriculum, and priorities for higher education. It will provide funds to the educational institutions based on their performance.

The commission will lay down minimum qualification and criteria for promotion of faculty members. It will take measures to establish fellowship and scholarship programmes.

The meeting, presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf, decided that the commission would enjoy full functional autonomy, safeguarding it from the snags of red-tapism and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Besides, the cabinet approved the ordinance establishing Virtual University.

Information and Media Development Minister Nisar Memon offered a dedicated digital TV channel to Virtual University for imparting education in the field of Information Technology and Computer Sciences. The offer was accepted by the science and technology minister.

It was decided that Virtual University would continue to maintain focus on imparting education through electronic means.

The cabinet directed the Pakistan Housing Authority to expedite the completion of ongoing housing projects in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar. It was decided that the authority should not undertake more projects in the public sector. The meeting approved the requisite funds to the PHA so that it could complete its projects.

The meeting directed Wapda to facilitate electricity supply to the PHA projects.

The meeting was also attended by the provincial governors, senior officials of the CBR, CDA, and chairman of the PHA.