ISLAMABAD, March 31: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) chairman, Dr Attaur Rehman, on Wednesday said the government was spending Rs5 billion on the promotion of higher education in the country and the amount would be enhanced to Rs9 billion in the near future.

Dr Rehman, who is also in charge ministry of science and technology, said the government was planning to spend Rs70 billion on various programmes of higher education spreading over the next decade.

He expressed these views at the inaugural ceremony of the 24th Pakistan Zoological Congress, organized at the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). He said, in the past, the successive governments literally ignored the education sector which failed to impart quality education in line with the international standards and requirements.

He said revolutionary changes in the field of education were expected in the next few years. The HEC chairman said under the assistance programme of the US, UK and other developed countries, the faculty members of Pakistani universities and institutes were being sent abroad for getting latest training.

"As many as 300 Pakistani expatriates living in the United States with PhD level qualifications are being requested to return home for imparting training and providing latest expertise here," he said.

He said under the newly introduced 'Tenure Track System', the professors teaching in universities and colleges would be paid monthly remuneration four times higher than the salary drawn by federal ministers.