LAHORE: In a decision which seems to benefit the private education sector, the Accreditation Committee of the Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) has unlawfully changed a policy on the establishment of new universities made by the provincial cabinet.

The committee at its 28th meeting held at the PHEC office on May 9 took the decision. Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah (chairperson) and members including Islamia University of Bahawalpur VC Prof Dr Athar Mahboob, Superior University Rector Prof Dr Sumaira Rehman, a representative of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department deputy secretary Dr Umar Ishaque, Higher Education Department Additional Secretary Ghulam Saghir Shahid and PHEC Chief Operating Officer Dr Mansoor Ahmad Baloch attended the meeting.

After deliberation, the chairperson constituted a committee comprising IUB VC Prof Mahboob, Prof Ms Rehman, HED Additional Secretary Mr Shahid and PHEC director (P&D) Nouman Maqbool Rao for onsite evaluation to process the cases for grant of charter, addition of programmes and approval of sub-campuses of private sector higher education institutions (HEIs) as per “procedure for the establishment of a new university or an institute in private sector, 2006.”

The accreditation committee recommended that the sponsors of a university shall have to make available at least 10 acres of land preferably in one piece to process the case for grant of charter. “If the land is in pieces, there must be a minimum 3 acres in the city at one place and 7 acres on city fringes on other places, depending on the location having potential for further development,” the committee decided.

An educationist, on the condition of anonymity, told Dawn that the composition and mandate/ ToRs of the committee were clearly stipulated in section 12 of PHEC Act 2014. “The Accreditation Committee shall make recommendations to the Commission in respect of the following matters including grant of charter for the establishment of institutions in the private sector, addition of new faculties by the private sector institutions, opening of sub-campuses by the private sector institutions, grant of affiliation by the private sector institutions, monitoring, inspection and visitation into affairs of the institutions and any other matter assigned to the committee by the Commission.”

He said the chairperson and members of committee should not encroach upon the jurisdiction of the government with regard to assuming the role of provincial legislature and challenging its lawful authority and nominating secretary of the committee on its own (which was done arbitrarily at the 28th meeting).

He said such encroachment would prove counterproductive and pose threat to the credibility of decisions taken by the accreditation committee. He said the committee was a recommendatory body and it should not decide upon / relax any provisions of government’s guidelines/ HED Policy of 2006 until the provincial cabinet itself amends its policy.

He said the ‘decision’ of making the land available in pieces of 3 acres in city and 7 acres on city fringes etc. cannot hold field or be considered for any case that is under process until the same is explicitly reflected in the government’s HED Policy of 2006 through amendment / revision by the government itself. He said the committee in conflict of interest also made Superior University rector Prof Sumaira Rehman as member accreditation committee and then to approve the same as member of commission to give approval for charter.

Accreditation Committee chairperson Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah told Dawn that he did not know about the HED policy about the land issue and would change the decision of the committee in the next meeting. He said the HED representative had also not objected when the decision was being made to allow the land in two pieces.

He said they would ensure the implementation of the HED policy 2006.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2022