LAHORE: Punjab Education Minister Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan has said the proposed provincial Higher Education Commission is being established to fund institutions of higher learning and transform them into centres of excellence.

The minister was speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day international conference on “Clinical Psychology Outside The Clinic” organised by PU Centre for Clinical Psychology (CCP) in collaboration with the Pakistan Association of Clinical Psychologists (PACP) here on Wednesday.

He said the Punjab government for the first time was going to develop a roadmap for higher education in which all relevant stakeholders were being involved.

The minister said the government would allow all public sector universities to use their excess land for commercial activities but varsities would be required to get an NOC from the relevant government departments.

Responding to CCP Director Prof Dr Rukhsana Kausar’s demand for establishment of Psychology First Aid or Psychological Emergency Services, like Rescue 1122, the minister said the Punjab government would extend all-out cooperation in this regard.

Dr Kausar said psychological problems were on the rise in Pakistan because of increased urbanisation, rapidly changing national and international political scenario, economic pressure, weakening of family ties, deterioration of value system, terrorism, sectarianism, etc.

She stressed the need for indigenising psychology and clinical psychology to meet the needs of society.

Due to increased number of traumas being experienced by Pakistani people, Dr Kausar said there was a dire need to establish Psychological First Aid or Psychological Emergency Services, which would respond to emergency situations. She said a proposal in this regard had been submitted to the government.

Pakistan Association of Clinical Psychologists president Dr Nashi Khan said the association was playing its role in reducing psychological problems of people and was working for the welfare of clinical psychologists.

PU Vice-Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran lauded the education minister for his dedication towards education and acknowledged that the minister instantly directed the police and other departments to resolve university matters on priority.

Swat University VC Prof Dr Jahanzeb Khan, Malakand University VC Prof Dr Johar Ali, Special Advisor on Mental Health Prof Dr Mowadat Husain Rana, faculty members, students and a large number of research scholars were also present.