Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh, Justice (Retd) MaqboolBaqar, recommended that universities can elevate their infrastructure, faculty quality, and research capabilities by securing augmented government funding and fostering public-private partnerships. This suggestion was made during his visit to Habib University on Wednesday morning, where he was received by President WasifRizvi, Lt Gen (Retd) Tariq Waseem Ghazi, and faculty members.
Justice Baqar acknowledged the role of the provincial government in establishing several universities in the region and highlighted the ongoing efforts to transform them into premier educational institutions.
He emphasized that merely establishing a university was insufficient; the substantial challenge lay in developing it into a distinguished seat of learning. Justice Baqar expressed contentment with the private sector’s active contribution to higher education, citing Habib University as an exemplary model of collaboration between industry and academia. The chief minister encouraged universities to seek advancements through increased financial support and strategic partnerships, envisioning a positive impact on infrastructure, faculty, and research endeavors.
The CM lauded the state-of-the-art architecture of Habib University, its faculty and modern method of education. “This university is not merely an institution, but it is a complete package of the best faculty and an ideal educational atmosphere,” the CM said. During a briefing to the Chief Minister, WasifRizvi, President of the University, revealed that Pakistan has been ranked 119th in higher education, behind Nepal, Bangladesh, and Ghana. He added that only 12 per cent of the total intermediate enrolment can secure admission to higher education, which is a cause for concern and needs to be addressed. He suggested that the government should consider launching higher education through public-private partnerships to secure investments in the sector.
