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ISLAMABAD, Nov 14 (APP): Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Farah Naz Akbar on Friday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening both higher and technical education.
Responding to questions during the question hour in the National Assembly, she said improved budgetary allocations would help address longstanding gaps in access and quality education.
On a supplementary question regarding the appointment of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman, she informed the House that the additional charge had been assigned to the Federal Secretary for three months, while the full appointment was in process and expected to be completed within four months.
She assured members that all issues raised—including pending degree verifications—would be resolved.
Farah Naz highlighted the financial constraints faced by the higher education sector, noting that since 2018–19, the HEC budget had remained stagnant at Rs 65 billion, forcing several universities to rely on provincial support or self-generated resources to meet operational needs.
She added that the development budget for 2024–25 had also dropped from Rs 61 billion to Rs 39.5 billion, affecting expansion and development plans nationwide.
Despite challenges such as inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and law and order issues in some areas, she said the government was making efforts to strengthen technical and online education.
Initiatives include training in freelancing, graphic design, web development and international certification courses to help young people find employment more quickly.
Responding to another question regarding scholarships, she said all PhD scholars going abroad were required to sign a five-year service bond to ensure their return and contribution to Pakistan.
Most scholars, she added, return after completing their PhDs and join local universities as assistant professors or researchers.
She further said that selection criteria for scholarships were determined by respective universities in collaboration with partner institutions abroad, with students applying online as per standard procedures.