The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has officially sought details of PhD scholarship defaulters who went abroad but failed to fulfill their commitments. The committee also directed authorities to present reasons for the cancellation of Fulbright scholarships within a week.
The meeting, chaired by Junaid Akbar Khan at Parliament House, was attended by committee members, the HEC chairman, the Auditor General of Pakistan, and vice-chancellors of various universities. Discussions focused on HEC’s 2023-24 audit reports, revealing financial irregularities and governance issues.
Chairman PAC raised concerns over allegations that some university professors were blackmailing students. He questioned why professors had unchecked authority over exams and grading. HEC officials responded that the issue was under discussion in the Vice-Chancellors’ Conference.
The committee found that the University of Gilgit-Baltistan was approved without a feasibility study, causing a Rs. 4.2 billion loss. It was also revealed that 96 HEC-funded students failed to return after completing their PhDs. Officials stated that 50% of the funds had been recovered, with efforts ongoing to reclaim the rest.
PAC Chairman directed FIRs against defaulters, while Senator Afnan Ullah suggested publishing their names in newspapers. The committee has demanded a comprehensive report within two weeks.
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