The authority to establish new universities is back from the provinces, the bill was approved by the federal cabinet

Karachi: The federal government withdrew the authority to establish new universities from the provinces, now the provincial assemblies will be bound by the advice of the federal HEC for the establishment or regulation of new universities.

In this regard, the Federal HEC Act 2002 Amendment Bill has been approved by the Federal Cabinet meeting held a day before, which will be presented in the next session of the National Assembly to make the final law. After the approval of the bill, the Provincial Higher Education Commissions and The departments will become virtually inactive and the authority to establish new universities in all provinces will be vested in the Federal HEC.

According to Section 4 of the HEC Amendment Bill approved by the Federal Cabinet, now the Federal Higher Education Commission has been declared the sole regulatory authority of universities. Such national matters are first approved by the Council of Common Interests.

It should be noted that currently provincial higher education commissions are active in Punjab and Sindh, while there is also a Department of Universities and Boards in Sindh, which holds the status of authority in relation to the establishment of new public and private universities, and the provincial assembly only on its recommendation. Approves the bill for the establishment of universities, while the federal HEC issues NOC to these universities, however, in case of the approval of the said amendment bill by the National Assembly after the cabinet, the responsibility of all this process will be the responsibility of the federal HEC. .

Similarly, it is stated in clause (Z) of section 9 of the bill that now the federal HEC will be able to advise the provincial and federal governments for charters for the establishment of both private and public universities, clause (cc) of section 9. It has been said that the Federal HEC is authorized to send advice to the Chancellor concerned for amending the rules of universities.

It should be noted that HECs were established at the provincial level after the approval of the 18th amendment during the government of the People’s Party, which is being made ineffective in the PDM federal government established in collaboration with the People’s Party. According to the amendment act approved by the cabinet, the tenure of the chairman commission has been reduced to 3 years instead of 2, while the power to appoint the executive director of the commission will also be with the prime minister, who will be recommended by the commission. had

Similarly, the vice chancellors of private universities have been represented in the commission, like the vice chancellors of public universities, and the prime minister will choose one of the three names sent by the committee of vice chancellors of private universities. The prime minister will also have the power to dismiss the chairman HEC or any commission member prematurely, while the number of non ex officio members of the commission has been reduced from 13 to 5.