ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: In order to bring university education to the level of foreign universities, the Pakistani universities will now award bachelor’s degree after successful completion of 16 years of study instead of 14.

This was decided in a meeting of the task forces on education constituted last April. It was also decided to set up a higher education commission to promote quality higher education in the country.

The meeting was presided over by President Musharraf.

The ministers for finance, education, science and technology, vice-chancellors and representatives of private universities also attended the meeting.

Two presentations were made, one on higher education, and the other on science and technology, by Shams Qasim Lakha of Agha Khan University and federal minister for science and technology Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, respectively.

The meeting decided in the light of the task forces’ recommendations to revolutionize universities education, particularly in the fields of science and technology.

The meeting also decided to give autonomy to these institutions and established an endowment fund.

The president directed the finance ministry to allocate more funds for higher education and asked the universities to emphasize on research.

It was decided that the appointment of vice-chancellors be made more transparent.

The role of the University Grants Commission will be redefined.—APP