ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: Higher Education Commission (HEC), on Monday extended the contracts of Executive Director (ED) Dr Sohail Naqvi for another four years and Advisor HRD Prof Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi’s contract has been extended for another one year.

Besides, commission also approved Pakistan Technology Council to promote science and technology in the country, Dawn has learnt.

Commission’s meeting was held at HEC headquarter, under the chair of Chairman HEC Dr Javed Leghari.

A member of the commission, who participated in the meeting requesting not to be identified, said that during the meeting, HEC’s ED case was presented in the meeting and members were briefed that contract of ED is going to expire on September 14, 2012, on the other hand there is a ban by the federal government on new recruitments, so contract of ED HEC, Dr Sohail Naqvi should be extended for another four years.

“Proposal was approved to assure continuity of the policies; however it was decided that if ban by the government will be lifted.

Contract of ED can be reconsidered,” he said.

“Members were also informed that Adviser (HRD), Prof Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi’s contract is also going to expire at the end of the current month, so it was decided that his contract should be extended for one year. However contract will be renewed after every three months. Contract can be reconsidered, in case of lifting of ban on new recruitments by the government,” he said.

Later, it was decided that Pakistan Technology Council will comprise of 20 members and the main function of the council will be to revise the curriculum of different courses introduced at university level.

According to media coordinator of HEC Murtaza Noor, Chairman HEC will be the controlling authority of the council and there will be members from Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Information Technology, Ministry of Education and Training, Pakistan Engineering Council, two members from Industry etc.

Former Senator and member of the commission, Razina Alam Khan while talking to Dawn defended the extension of Dr Sohail Naqvi and said that he had offers from number of organisations and he could earn much more as compared to what he was getting from HEC.

“Dr Naqvi wants to serve the country and only that is why he has decided to stay in HEC. As far as Prof Dr Riaz Hussain Qureshi was concerned, he should continue his job as long as government would not lift the ban on new recruitments,” she said.