The Senate Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Monday unanimously passed the Bill Titled, " The Global Institute Bill, 2022", moved by Senator Shahadat Awan. The Chairman Committee acceded that diligent work has already been done on the bill, over the years, and passed it unanimously in the interest of the education sector at large.
The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training met under the Chairmanship of Senator Irfan-ul Haque Siddiqui here at the Parliament House on Monday. The Committee passed the Bill titled "The Pakistan Global Institute Bill, 2022" as passed by the National Assembly, introduced by Senator Shahadat Awan on behalf of Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Federal Education and professional training in the senate.
The panel also intended to visit the site, allocated for the university and asses/evaluate its framework and progress.
The Chairman HEC submitted that this will be a Degree Awarding Institute (DAI) in the private sector. The sponsoring body of the proposed DAI is THMC Education System (Private) Limited registered under section 32 of the Companies Ordinance, 1984 having corporate Universal identification No. 009133 dated January 01, 2015. The committee was briefed that the proposed DAI is the only institute in the private sector having Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from South Korea in the education sector of Pakistan with objectives to further strengthen the linkages between Pakistan and South Korea, to improve the Quality of education in Pakistan and provide the Pakistani youth with opportunities for research in the areas of management, information technology and other areas.
The institute initially intends to commence academic operation in the Faculty of Business Management and Faculty of information technology, the officials informed.
Senator Irfan-ul-Haque Siddiqui stressed that Chairman HEC puts forth his powers in good spirit and faith, and empowers the educational sector. The Chairman committee decided to take up a special meeting with regards to the finances and funds of the HEC to evaluate the financial model of the institute. The Chairman Committee was of the view that essentially the funds and finances of the department should be utilized in providing quality education. The Chairman Committee recommended to identify the Lucanas in the Higher Education Commission and a work plan to resolve them. The Chairman Committee sought a comprehensive report on the future work plan and termed it "as things to do" within 30 days.
The briefing by the HEC on the goals objectives targets responsibility and administrative control and utilisation of funds and future plans were deferred on the request of the Chairman Committee. The committee decided to visit HEC and take on ground briefing on the same. The Chairman Committee regretted the absence of the Minister as well as the Secretary, Ministry of Education. The Chairman Committee directed to ensure presence in the next meeting.
The committee also unanimously endorsed the re-nomination of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq as a member, of the Federal Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education (FBISE), Islamabad. The matter was sent to the committee by the Chairman Senate for ratification which was ratified unanimously by the committee.
Regarding the matter pertaining to BPS promotion status and its resolution as committed by the HEC, the Chairman HEC apprised the committee that the Academic Committee of the Commission decided to constitute a sub-committee (comprising of vice-chancellors, representative of Ministry of Finance, MOPE&T, APBUTA) to review the existing draft policy. Since then, two meetings of the committee have been held so far. The final recommendations of the sub-committee will be placed before the Academic Committee of the Commission and subsequent to the Commission for consideration. The matter was deferred for further deliberation and report.
The matter of Public Petition no 4748 submitted by Mr Din Kalam Khan Wazir, regarding the transfer of female teachers from Tribal District North Waziristan to Abbottabad, the Chairman Committee said that matter should be taken at its earliest and be resolved as committed by the Federal Minister for Education. The Additional Secretary assured the committee to look into the matter and resolve the issue in coordination with the Provincial Minister for Education.
Earlier, the committee offered Fateha over the sad demise of Senator Sikandar Mandro (Late) and prayed for the high elevation of the deceased soul.
The meeting was attended by Senators Fawzia Arshad, Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar, Molvi Faiz Muhammad and Senator Falak Naz. Chairman Higher Education Commission Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, DG HEC and other officials were also in attendance.