Islamabad; April 23, 2018: Meeting of the Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held in Conference Room of Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi today with Col. ® Dr. Amirullah Marwat, MNA in the chair.

The Committee examined the Bill titled “Institute of Science and Technology Bahawalpur, Bill, 2018”. The Institute shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession and common seal. While briefing the Committee about its objectives, the Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training said that it will meet the local needs, particularly in the cotton-related technology, of the south Punjab producing 50% of cotton. Besides, the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur also needs human resource skilled in different technological fields. After its scrutiny, the Bill was approved unanimously with minor amendments.

The Committee was given a comprehensive briefing by the Pro VC, Pir Mehar Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi regarding its performance as well as problems. The University aims at developing human resource for socio-economic uplift of the people living in dry and mountainous regions. Here, students are imparted education upto Ph. D. level by the dedicated faculty. At present, 12,897 students (under graduate and post graduate) are quenching their thirst for knowledge in the various disciplines. University extends financial support to the students through various national and international scholarships programs. Research and Development is one of the significant indicators to measure the performance of any university. The University has completed 47 research projects while 82 are under completion. With the efforts of its faculty, the University has developed Indigenous Hydroponic System. The system, being cost affective, is very beneficial for kitchen gardening. The University has built a Rain Water Harvesting Reservoir, with the storage capacity of 0.23 million cft. Its catchment area is the campus roofs.  It has cultivated fruit and olive orchards for research purpose.

The Committee showed satisfaction regarding the performance of the University. At the same time, it was emphasized that the University:

Ø  should focus on quality and not quantity of education;

Ø  should have its regular VC at the earliest;

Ø  should have at least 50% agriculture related programs/disciplines;

Ø  should have proactive approach towards harassment. In case of harassment, severe and prompt action should be taken against the offender.

Ø  nepotism and favouritism should be eradicated to develop merit based environment.

The Committee noticed, with displeasure, non-compliance of its directions, passed in the last meeting, by Women University, Swabi. The University will implement the Governor’s Secretariat letter No. SO (III) 6 (24)6/GS/10/708-11 dated 28.2.2018 directing to invalidate and reverse the recruitment process, within seven (7) days. The ex-contract faculty, terminated without assigning any reason, will be re-appointed forthwith through out of the court settlement. The male faculty/staff should not be recruited. Recruitment of male faculty/staff in Women University/Institute is one of the reasons behind harassment.

The Committee showed severe displeasure regarding non-compliance of its direction, given in the last meeting, by Abdul Wali Khan University. The University will convene meeting of its Syndicate in the next ten (10) days to examine the promotion/appointment of Ms. Khanzadi Fatima as Professor in accordance with HEC Ref. 1-Misc//QAD/HEC/2016/25 dated 05/03/2018 strictly under HEC’s prescribed criteria and submit report to HEC immediately after the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, MNAs; Mr. Muhammad Nazir Khan, Ms. Asyia Naz Tanoli, Ms. Amra Khan, Chudhary Hamid Hameed, Ms. Surriya Asghar, Ms. Suraiya Jatoi, Dr. Shazia Sobia, Mrs. Shahida Rehmani, Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan, Ms. Mussarat Ahmad Zeb, Mover of the Question and Senior Officers of the concerned Division/Departments/ Universities.