The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has contacted the relevant Federal Ministries to address funding discrepancies in Public Sector Development Projects (PSDPs) under its jurisdiction.
“After discussions with the federal government, HEC authorities are hopeful that the funds will be released soon,” an official familiar with the situation told Hum News on the condition of anonymity.
The official further noted that the HEC has communicated with the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of Finance, informing them that the commission has not yet received the allocated funds for its PSDP projects for the fiscal year 2024-25. This delay could potentially disrupt the smooth execution of these projects.
Sources also revealed that the HEC has been unable to pay the salaries of employees working on various ongoing development projects. Currently, over 150 employees are involved in these projects across the commission.
In a conversation with Hum News, HEC Chairman Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed stated, “We are awaiting the first release of PSDP project funds,” adding that the funds are expected to arrive soon as the government has assured their release.
“The HEC is in continuous communication with the Ministry of Planning and Finance, and we expect the issue to be resolved within days,” he expressed optimistically. Dr. Ahmed further explained that the release was initially anticipated last month but was delayed due to bureaucratic obstacles. “We are making efforts to resolve this within the week,” he added.
Dr. Ahmed stressed the importance of these development projects for improving the overall educational standards, emphasizing that education is the foundation of the nation’s progress and prosperity.
According to available documents, the HEC oversees 137 ongoing development schemes with an allocated budget of Rs. 39,676 million for the fiscal year 2024-25.
Additionally, the government has allocated Rs. 21,438 million for 20 new development projects within the HEC for this year.
New higher education development projects include the establishment of the Dr. Ashfaq Ahmad Khan Centre in Basic Sciences, the Higher Education Development Programme of Pakistan (HEDP), the PAK-USAID Merit and Needs-Based Scholarship Program (Phase-II), and the Dr. AQ Khan Institute of Metallurgy and Emerging Sciences, the strengthening of lab facilities in five leading engineering universities (UET Peshawar, Taxila, Lahore, Khuzdar, and NED Karachi), the establishment of the National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA), the establishment of the China-Pakistan Joint Research Centre (CPJR) on Earth Sciences at QAU, Islamabad, the establishment of the Institute of Science & Technology, Bahawalpur, the establishment of the National Centre of Nano-Technology, the establishment of the National Centre of Quantum Computing, the establishment of the Manufacturing Technology, Automation, and Innovation Center, the establishment of the National Centre for Brand Development, the establishment of the National Growth Centre, the establishment of Bayt-ul-Hikmah at NUML, the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme, the completion of the remaining work on the Chotagala Campus of the University of Poonch Rawalakot through a loan from the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), the establishment of the National Institute of Intelligence and Security Studies (NIISS) at QAU, Islamabad, the Prime Minister’s Youth Internship Programme, and the construction of a Girls’ Hostel at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design.
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