ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) will not be able to complete its development projects in time because of budgetary cuts brought in by the finance ministry.

In the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2006-07, Rs16 billion was earmarked for the HEC, however just after budget’s announcement last year, the finance ministry imposed a cut of Rs4.5 billion in the commission’s current year’s budget.

The ministry asked HEC Chairman Dr Attaur Rehman to readjust the development projects.

Later, the government announced a 15 per cent increase in the salaries of university teachers amounting to Rs1.2 billion, which put an additional pressure on the HEC’s finances.

In a recent development, the finance ministry had asked the HEC to divert Rs2 billion of its development budget to meet its current expenditures.

A top official of the HEC said until the last moment they (finance ministry officials) kept on assuring the education commission that during the mid-term review it would get some financial relief. But finally “we have been asked to use our development budget for the current expenditures, which by no means is good for the higher education sector”.

The official said that the issue remained unsettled.

HEC Executive Director Dr Sohail Naqvi argued: “Considering the total budget of the HEC, which stands at Rs16 billion, the present cut of Rs2 billion will not affect us too much. Just a few adjustments will be needed.”