LAHORE: Federal Higher Education Commission chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed says the country is facing a shortage of 36,000 PhDs.

“There is a shortage of 36,000 PhDs. The government must increase budget for higher education to meet such challenges in the sector,” Mr Ahmed said during a visit to the Government College University here on Thursday.

He said after the 18th Amendment, provincial higher education commissions were a reality. “There has been no conflict between federal and provincial higher education commissions. However, the role of provincial higher education commissions is needed to be defined to end confusion and hopefully this issue will amicably be resolved in the Council of Common Interests (CCI),” he said, adding the universities were benefited from both federal and provincial higher education commissions, but the major budget of varsities came from the federal HEC.

Dr Ahmed said the brutal incident in the Khan Abdul Wali Khan University in Mardan was a very serious issue of extremism in educational institution.

“We are producing good scientists, doctors and engineers but we also have to ask ourselves whether we are also producing good human beings or not. This is where the role of universities is very important,” he said.

The HEC is holding a special conference of vice-chancellors next month for seeking suggestions for promotion of peace and tolerance in the varsities.

GCU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah said the varsity always focused on character building and personality development of students.

It taught them tolerance towards the beliefs, faith, race, religion and ideas of other people. “However schools should pay special attention to moral training of students,” Mr Shah said.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2017