PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has directed the authorities concerned to resolve the financial problems of public sector universities on sustainable basis so that proper focus could be laid on promotion of research and provision of quality higher education.

He directed the authorities to formulate proposals in this regard in consultation with the higher education, finance and other relevant departments, said a handout issued here on Wednesday.

Presiding over a meeting on finances of public sector universities, the chief minister said goal of the effort was to promote quality education and research. A detailed report on the financial matters of the universities was presented in the meeting.

The meeting was informed about statistics regarding academic session 2019-20, overview of financial budget, estimated expenditures, factors of financial problems of public sector universities and recommendations were proposed to resolve the issues.

The meeting was informed that 40 universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were recognised by Higher Education Commission out of which 29 were public sector universities.

In order to make the public sector universities financially sustainable, numerous recommendations were proposed that included amendment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, establishment of KP universities consolidated pension fund, discouragement of unnecessary recruitments, restructuring of syndicate and moratorium on establishment of general universities in public sector for next five years, except universities for specialised education and training.

The meeting stressed the need for further improving BS programme in the universities.

The chief minister agreed in principle with the recommendations and directed that immediate steps should be taken to correct the issues in the jurisdiction of the universities.

He said that other recommendations presented in the meeting should be shared with relevant departments and a concrete and viable proposal should be presented as soon as possible.

The chief minister said that fast track promotion of higher education and research should be the priority by bringing the universities out of financial issues to provide pleasant atmosphere to the students.

He directed the authorities concerned to ensure accelerated progress on the decisions made in the meeting and present concrete way forward soon.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2020