CM directs to resolve financial woes of varsities

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan directed Wednesday the  authorities concerned to resolve the financial problems faced by public sector universities on sustainable basis so that proper focus could be laid on promotion of research and provision of quality Higher Education.

He was presiding over a meeting on the finances of Public Sector Universities at Chief Minister’s Secretariat Peshawar and directed for the formulation of concrete proposals in this regard in consultation with the higher education, finance and concerned departments making it clear that the ultimate goal of the overall effort is to promote standard education and research in accordance with the needs of modern era which is the only way to meet the prevailing challenges of contemporary world.

A detailed report on the financial matters of the universities was presented in the meeting.

The Chief Minister Total strength of universities, basic statistics regarding academic session 2019-20, overview of financial budget, estimated expenditures, factors of financial problems and recommendations proposed for the purpose were deliberated upon in detail.

The meeting was informed that there are 40 universities recognized by the Higher Education Commission in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, out of which 29 are public sector universities. In order to make the public run Universities financially sustainable, numerous recommendations were proposed that included amendment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Universities Act, establishment of KP Universities consolidated pension fund, discouragement of unnecessary recruitments, restructuring of syndicate, moratorium on establishment of general universities in public sector for next five years, except Universities for Specialized Education and Training etc.

The Chief Minister reiterated his directed to ensure accelerated progress on the decisions made in the meeting and to present concrete way forward very soon.