Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training met under the Chairmanship of Senator Irfan-ul-Haq Siqqidui at Parliament House.
The Chairman Committee lauded the efforts of the Higher Education Commission along with the Ministry to resolve the matter of administrative control of Municipal Corporation, Islamabad in a supportive manner. The Chairman Committee reiterated that matter should be followed up time to time and the concerns can be brought back into the committee for deliberation.
It was recommended by the committee that the issue of the provision of the scholarships to the students at provincial level should be resolved on a permanent basis by holding joint meetings with the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) in accordance with the committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, the Planning Commission, and the Higher Education Commission, with the recommendation for the representation of the Provincial Government as well. The Chairman Committee also sought brief by the HEC to devise a mechanism for the resolution of the grant of scholarships at provincial level.
The committee also noted that the students of MDCAT who were unable to be accommodated last year due to the delay in the identification of seats by the HEC are not allowed to get admission for the coming year as the criteria of admission has been changed from 60pc to 65pc is unfair and unjust with the students.
The committee recommended allowing availing the 36 seats for the students who fulfilled the apt criteria from previous year apart from the 265 seats allocated for the new academic year.
The Bills were deferred with serious concern over the absence of the Minister. “The prerogative of the Minister is essential over the Bill of utter importance and cannot be ignored” stated Chairman Committee while deferring the Bills for the next meeting.
