ISLAMABAD – Calling a 35 percent cut in the budget as the biggest in thecountry’s history, Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. TariqBanuri has appealed to the Prime Minister for restoring the highereducation sector’s budget as it is affecting ongoing as well as futureprograms.
Addressing a presser, Dr. Banuri said that HEC has received around half ofthe amount it demanded from the government for the fiscal year 2019-20. HEChad asked for Rs. 103.5 billion for the fiscal year 2019-20, but thegovernment has approved Rs. 59 billion, in addition to approving Rs. 28billion for the development sector compared to the demand of Rs. 55 billion.
He further said that all of the 120 public sector universities are not onlyfacing education quality challenges but also financial crises, which is nota good omen for higher education in the country.
He said that the HEC is in contact with the government to realize theimportance of funding for the sector. The commission has presented its casefor the allocation of budget on every forum including the Prime MinisterSecretariat, Ministry of Finance and cabinet, and the government promisedto deliver in this regard.
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Prime Minister Imran Khan should do something practical to fulfill hispromises, he said, adding that the HEC is in contact with the government toseek a reversal of the shortsighted policy. “Pakistan is providing thelowest level of funding to the higher education sector,” he emphasized.
