SWABI, Jan 23: Members of the International Advisory Board of the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology have backed a proposal that graduate and PhD programmes of the institute should be assisted by the government.

The GIK Institute IAB comprises scientists, engineers and academicians of international standing from America, Europe and other parts of the world.

The board sets international standard for the institute to ensure quality education and research laboratories and library facilities.

At a meeting, the four-year undergraduate, graduate and doctorate programmes, role of the board of governors, governing council, executive body and teaching mechanism to implement policies and budgetary process came under discussion.

The board members were informed that the institute spent Rs133 million annually on the salary of the staff and Rs14 million had been provided as financial assistance to students with insufficient means.

The academia told the IAB members to judge strength, weaknesses and suggest how to improve the teaching standard.

They also sought proposals to boost the standard of education and research.