KARACHI, March 3: The recurring grants of the public sector universities in the country are being doubled over the next two years.

This was stated by the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, while talking to APP on Monday.

He said that the finance ministry has accorded an approval to this effect and that the process would commence from July 1 this year.

Prof. Atta described this as a huge development which would greatly benefit the public sector universities.

He said he had raised the matter last year and President General Pervez Musharraf had issued a directive which was now being implemented from July 1.

The HEC chairman said the recurring budget of the public sector universities is to

the tune of about Rs3.5 billion and it would be increased to Rs7 billion in the next two years.

Similarly, he added, the development budget of the public sector universities will also be enhanced from the present about Rs4.5 billion to Rs9 billion during the next two years’ period.

Prof. Atta said the major focus is on the development of the faculty. At present from amongst 7,000 faculty members, only 1,500 have the PhD degree.

The programme for strengthening the faculty is aimed at ensuring that some 80 per cent of the faculty members have properly qualified PhD degree over the next eight to 10 years.

Prof. Atta said that A need-oriented programme would be chalked out and there would be linkages aimed at the industrial and agricultural development.

He said through an international linkage programme, the services of the expatriate Pakistanis would also be utilized.

Dr Atta further said that the social sciences would also be strengthened and a national group has also been formed for this purpose.—APP