President Zardari delays abolition of HEC’s authority

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has delayed the federal government’s move to abolish the authority of the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

A relevant bill was to be presented in the joint session of the parliament on January 24.

According to reports, this measure reduces the autonomy of the federal HEC, and gives the prime minister the right to nominate the executive director.

The number of HEC members is being decreased to 10, including four eminent academicians, scientists and IT specialists chosen by the PM for their significant contributions to higher education.

The chairpersons of the provincial HECs have also been named as commission members. However, only Sindh and Punjab have functional HECs, while Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa do not.

The HEC will submit a panel of three nominees for vice chancellor seats at public universities to the PM, who will select one. Similarly, a panel of three nominees for VC positions at private universities will be presented to the PM, who will make the final decision.

According to the draft bill, the HEC chairman’s term has been increased from two to four years. The authority to appoint the executive director has been removed from the HEC and transferred to the PM.

The HEC will recommend three nominees to the PM, who will select one. According to sources, as per the draft bill, the HEC chairman’s role equivalent to a federal minister has also been abolished.