LAHORE: Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) members unanimously passed a resolution urging the government to allocate a “one-liner, non-lapsable” budget grant to avert hurdles in the smooth execution of various projects and empower the organization to best utilize its funds through rationalization.

The meeting of the commission was held at PHEC head office on Saturday.

PHEC Chairman Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid presided over the meeting while IUB VC Prof Dr Athar Mahboob, University of South Asia VC Mian Imran Masood, KEMU VC Prof Dr Khalid Masood Gondal, LUMS Prof Dr Arif Nazeer Butt, Govt Apwa Graduate College for Women Principal Dr Naima Khurshid, Superior University Rector Dr Sumaira Rehman, NCA former principal Prof Naazish Ataullah, Madina Foundation Chairman Mian Muhammad Hanif, Health Secretary Nabeel Ahmad Awan, HED Additional Secretary Manzar Javed Ali and representative of the finance secretary were also present.

During the meeting, release of the amount in favour of various higher education projects, finalized for the financial year 2020-21 were accorded approval by the members.

The house approved 25 awards of total worth Rs172 million to be awarded to the shortlisted faculty members from the public sector universities of Punjab in health, agriculture, engineering, information technology and emerging sciences under the Punjab Innovation and Research Challenge Award project.

The commission also approved 21 postdoctoral fellowships worth Rs63m for the faculty members of universities and public sector colleges of Punjab. Similarly, eight awards worth Rs9.5m to be awarded under the International Research Support Fund were also given approval.

It also approved the release of Rs25m funds for provisioning of Learning Management System and Smart Classroom facility to three universities — University of Home Economics, Lahore, University of Chakwal, and Govt Sadiq College for Women University, Bahawalpur.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2021