HEC fails to recover Rs1.5bn from defaulting scholars, PAC told

ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee took a strong notice of scholars who went on foreign scholarships but did not return to the country. It was revealed that Rs1.5 billion of foreign scholarships was not recovered from them.

Chairman PAC Junaid Akbar directed the Higher Education Commission to file FIRs against the defaulting scholars, cancel their passports and block their CNICs.

The meeting of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Chairman Junaid Akbar and the audit objections related to Higher Education Commission for the financial year 2022-23 and 2023-23 were examined.

The HEC told the committee that foreign scholarships were provided to 5,321 candidates under 9 different projects and out of these Rs800 million was recovered from 96 defaulters. The Chief Executive Officer of the HEC told the committee that 36 cases are under trial in the courts. Further, a letter is written to embassies and high commissions regarding the defaulting scholars. The audit official said in case of a breach of the agreement, the scholars are bound to pay the HEC a penalty at the rate of 25pc besides compensating the HEC by refunding the total expenditure including the travel costs, etc.

Shazia Marri said that there should be a permanent solution to this whole issue so that national money is not spent on people who do not return to Pakistan. “The HEC should think about this issue,” she said. Chairman PAC Junaid Akbar said that HEC should file FIRs against such people and their identity cards should also be blocked. Shahida Akhtar said that the passports of such people should be cancelled. Senator Afnanullah said it was very shameful that people who use the country’s money do not return. It was revealed in the PAC that 89 out of 92 Fulbright scholarships in the United States were cancelled. Chairman PAC Junaid Akbar said that if recovery is being done through the courts, then who will bear the expenses of HEC. The PAC directed HEC to submit a report related to scholarships within two weeks.