The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has decided to formulate a new policy for government-funded PhD scholars studying abroad, aiming to revise existing rules and ease penalties for students who fail to complete their degrees.
According to officials, the policy under consideration proposes that PhD scholars sent abroad on merit will not face fines if they fail to complete their degrees within the stipulated time.
Authorities also plan to ensure that such scholars are not harassed upon their return to Pakistan.
HEC officials noted that the global failure rate for PhD scholars is around 50 percent, while in Pakistan it remains about 5 percent.
The commission is also reviewing the affidavit and bond conditions signed by scholars before leaving for foreign studies, including the five-year mandatory service requirement.
Under the proposed policy, scholars who fail their degrees but return to Pakistan will not face legal action or financial penalties. However, strict measures will apply to those who fail and choose to stay abroad for employment or residency.
HEC officials revealed that more than 100 overseas scholars who failed or absconded still owe millions of rupees in penalties to the commission.
The upcoming policy may also include provisions to discourage political asylum and unauthorized stay abroad, as part of efforts to ensure accountability in government-funded scholarship programs.
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