PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Higher Education Commission on Friday agreed to establish a coordination mechanism between the provincial higher education department and the commission for resolving issues being faced by the public sector universities in the province.

A statement issued here said that the decision was taken in a meeting between Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and HEC chairman Tariq Banuri.

It said that various matters related to public sector universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa came under discussion. Special assistant to the CM on higher education Kamran Bangash and other officials were also present on this occasion.

The statement said that they discussed matters related to improving quality of education and research in the universities. It was decided that in order to ensure effective representation of the provincial government in the commission, secretary higher education department would personally attend the commission’s meetings.

It noted that the provincial government would present its recommendations with regard to HEC in the upcoming meeting of Council of Common Interests.

The chief minister said on the occasion that higher education was one of priority sectors of his government. He said the government was already working to streamline matters related to universities and to get their issues resolved.

Mr Khan asked the HEC to play its due role to resolve the issues being faced by the public sector universities in the province.

Mr Banuri lauded the initiatives taken by the provincial government in higher education sector and said the commission would work in close coordination with it to resolve issues being faced by the universities and to raise the standard of higher education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2021