KARACHI: Universities’ grant to be doubled in next budget
KARACHI, May 16: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehaman has revealed that the federal government has already approved 100 per cent increase in the grant for the public sector universities from the next financial year.
He said that the government aimed at developing the advanced research, as well as raising standard of education, besides equipping the laboratories with the latest scientific gadgets to help teachers and students.
He said this while laying foundation stone of three departments, Applied Physics, Bio Technology and Food Science in the University of Karachi on Friday, a press release said.
Earlier, the KU Vice-Chancellor Dr Zafar Sayeed Saify, while welcoming Prof Dr Attaur Rehman, said that standard of education was being adversely affected due to shortage of buildings and labs as compared to the number of students in the university.
He hoped that the buildings would be completed with in the period of one year so that the teaching process could begin from the next session.
Prof Dr Atta remarked that 44 public sector universities in the country had not been able to attain the desired standard of education and research, so far.
He reiterated the resolve of the government that the universities should regain their past repute as centres of research and development.
He deplored that there was an acute shortage of PhD degree holders in the varsities in the country.
He said the ‘vision’ given by General Pervez Musharraf stresses on research and higher education, especially in the field information technology, without which development and exploration of resources was not possible.
He said that grants were being given for new projects, generous stipends were being provided to lecturers for doing PhD or MPhil degrees and additional allowance was being considered for the faculties of social sciences in each university.
He further disclosed that HEC had allocated an amount of Rs100 million for research, which would enable the universities to start new research projects, which would also create an environment of competition among these institutions.
The KU Registrar Dr Muhammad Abdur Rauf and Dean of Science Faculty were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, talking to the APP he said that the current budget of Rs 4.3 billion would be enhanced to Rs65 billion from July 1 and it would further enhance to over Rs 8 billion by July next year.
This, he added, would help a lot towards enhancing the academic standards, hiring of good faculty members, as well as fostering the research work.
The HEC chief said that a programme of tele-medicine had also been started so as to use the internet in far flung areas for provision of specialist’s help.
He said that now through modern technology it was possible that at the district hospitals and far flung areas specialist advice could be made available to the people through video conference.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s own satellite was operational and that four TV channels would be initiated through it for the educational purposes.
These TV channels would be initiated under the auspices of the Virtual University.
The HEC chief said that the two TV channels in this respect would become operational towards the end of this year and these would be used for distance learning.—PPI/APP
KARACHI, May 16: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Attaur Rehaman has revealed that the federal government has already approved 100 per cent increase in the grant for the public sector universities from the next financial year.
