LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has approved ‘Punjab Honahar Merit Scholarship Programme,’ and directed the authorities concerned to increase the number of meritorious scholarships from 4,000 to 25,000.

Presiding over a meeting of the Punjab Higher Education Department here on Saturday, she said that 100 per cent fee of the students doing BS from government and eight selected private universities would be paid from the scholarship.

She directed immediate establishment of new universities in Jhelum, Vehari and Bahawalnagar.

She underlined the need to introduce new market-driven disciplines in colleges with limited number of students. She also ordered introduction of a foolproof system for the appointment of divisional directors and principals purely on merit through an online portal system.

Orders establishment of universities in Jhelum, Vehari and Bahawalnagar; reviews recommendations for public-private partnership

A plan for providing new buses to government colleges was also presented in the meeting.

“It is advisable to constitute a high-level ministerial committee to review affairs of the private universities,” the CM said and decided to establish Punjab Board Coordination Commission for reforms in the affairs of education boards in the province.

She said the scope of free MDCAT and e-CAT classes in colleges should be gradually expanded for students from remote areas.

She reviewed recommendations for the establishment of universities under public private partnership and agreed to facilitate private sector in this regard.

“Facilitate private sector for the promotion of higher education,” she said.

The chief minister also directed to immediately launch the laptop scheme. She appreciated the performance of Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and the Higher Education Department.

Earlier, Higher Education Secretary Dr. Farrukh Naveed gave a detailed briefing to the meeting.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat attended the meeting. Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Finance Secretary, Principal Secretary to CM and other officers concerned were also present.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024