Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology in its meeting on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the increasing deficit of universities across the country and difficulty in running day to day affairs of the country. The Committee observed that Higher Education is being gravely neglected and it will have serious consequences for the country.
The Committee recommended that Rs 21 billion in addition to the allocated Rs. 59 billion for Higher Education Commission be released before June 2020 as one-time payment or in piecemeal. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan here at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Nuzhat Sadiq, Sassui Palijo, Gianchand, Syed Sabir Shah, Secretary Science and Technology and officials from Higher Education Commission (HEC).
Regarding mapping of research activities in the country, the Secretary told the Committee that there are 164 Research and Development departments in universities and 67 other similar institutes across the country making it 231 in total. However, the data is still being collected and the number is subject to change. 17,547 researchers are registered with PASTECH and there are 129,000 MS and PhD scholars. The Committee appreciated the work done and called for coordinated work with Higher Education Commission as isolated efforts will not help. The matter of registering patents within and outside the country was also discussed and the Committee recommended reducing the hiccups in the process which is time consuming and burdensome. While briefing the Committee about issuance of guidelines for random drug screening tests that would enable universities to make their campuses smoke and drug free, the Committee was told by HEC that awareness campaigns are underway and students are encouraged to identify people who are involved in drugs to take steps for their social inclusion.
