ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) on Thursday joined hands to stop alleged sale of MS and PhD theses in Punjab.

The two commissions had been at loggerheads for the last many years over power issues. However, at a meeting on Thursday, Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin, PHEC chairperson, and Dr Arshad Ali, HEC executive director, vowed to work together for improving quality of education.

A spokesman for HEC said issues covering the overall development of higher education sector in the country were discussed. However, the issue of sale of degrees and paid-for MS and PhD theses in Punjab dominated the discussion.

Dr Ali said HEC had constituted a four-member joint committee with PHEC to investigate the matter. He told Dr Nizam that strategic policies regarding transnational education and distance education had been devised.

“Today we decided to work together to probe alleged sale of PhD and MS theses. We will also take universities on board for stopping this practice,” the HEC ED told Dawn. He said it was the responsibility of HEC to cooperate and guide the provincial HECs.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2018