Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) members have unanimously passed a resolution that urged the government to allocate a “one-liner, non-lapsable” budget grant to the PHEC to avert hurdles in the smooth execution of various projects and empower the organization to best utilize its funds through rationalization.
The demand was made in the 24th Commission meeting that was held on Friday, June 11, 2021, at PHEC Head Office Arfa Software Technology Park, Lahore.
Chairman PHEC Prof. Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid presided over the meeting and attended by Prof. Dr. Athar Mahboob (VC IUB Bahawalpur), Mian Imran Masood (VC University of South Asia, Lahore), Prof. Dr. Khalid Masood Gondal (VC KEMU Lahore), Prof. Dr. Arif Nazeer Butt (Professor at LUMS Lahore), Dr. Naima Khurshid (Principal, Govt. APWA Graduate College for Women, Lahore), Dr. Sumaira Rehman (Rector, Superior University, Lahore), Prof. Naazish Ata Ullah (Ex-Principal NCA Lahore), Mian Muhammad Hanif (Chairman, Madina Foundation), Mr. Nabeel Ahmad Awan (Secretary Health, Govt. of Punjab), Mr. Manzar Javed Ali (Additional Secretary HED Govt. of Punjab and Representative of Secretary Finance, Govt. of Punjab,
During the meeting, release of amount in favour of various higher education projects, finalized for FY 2020-21 were accorded approval by the members. The house approved 25 awards of total worth Rs. 172 million to be awarded to the shortlisted faculty members from public sector universities of Punjab in health, agriculture, engineering, information technology and emerging sciences under Punjab Innovation & Research Challenge Award (PIRCA) project.
The commission also approved 21 post-doctoral fellowships worth Rs. 63 million for the faculty members of universities and public sector colleges of Punjab. Similarly, 8 awards of worth Rs. 9.5 million to be awarded under International Research Support Fund (IRSF) were also given approval.
The house also accorded approval for release of funds worth Rs. 25 million for provisioning of Learning Management System (LMS) and Smart Classroom facility to three provincial universities namely University of Home Economics, Lahore, University of Chakwal, and Govt. Sadiq College for Women University, Bahawalpur.
Dr. Fazal Ahmed Khalid briefed the commission members about the progress of the organization.
He said that despite the scanty budget, the PHEC worked steadily for the uplift of the higher education sector in Punjab.
He maintained that the continued support from all the stakeholders including government, public and private universities would help PHEC strengthen, expand its outreach and fulfill the vision of the government on higher education.Commission urged Govt. for “one-liner, non-lapsable” enhanced budget for PHEC.
