ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Education and Professional Training Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman on Tuesday informed the Senate that Higher Education Commission (HEC) had awarded scholarships to around 19,215 students since 2003.
Responding to questions in question hour the minister said that non-government funding including foreign funded scholarships are normally offered on bilateral basis through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs Division.
He said the role of HEC in nomination process is limited as the award of scholarship is solely made by the corresponding donor country.
The Minister said a total of 6,793 scholars had returned back to Pakistan after completing their higher education abroad under government funded HEC overseas scholarship projects.
Muhammad Baligh-ur-Rehman said 139 scholars did not come back to Pakistan after completing their education abroad.
To another question, he said, after 18th Constitutional Amendment the subject of curriculum is totally devolved to the provinces.
However, he said, all federating units are implementing the National Curriculum 2006-07 developed and notified by the defunct Ministry of Education.
The Minister informed the House that the implementation status is not the same in all provinces because of the capacity with respect to textbook development and teacher training etc.
He said total 209 professors and 1145 lecturers had been appointed in the universities located in Sindh since January 09, 2010.
He said before issuing NOC to the private universities, Higher Education Commission ensures that their operational framework is in line with the minimum defined standards.
The Minister said the government has envisaged establishing new university or sub-campus of university in each district of the country under its Vision 2025.
In this regard, he said, Higher Education Commission (HEC) has prepared a comprehensive plan that is in process of consultation with provincial governments.
He said the government has allocated Rs 5,000 million in PSDP 2015-16 to provide infrastructure and allied facilities to these established universities and sub-campuses.
Meanwhile, Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz informed the house that last year in October, a complaint was received from a female, Dutch citizen of Pakistani origin, against Khair Muhammad Tunio, Additional Assistant, who was posted in the Embassy.
On receiving the complaint, he said, the Ambassador formed a committee consisting of DHM and HOC to investigate the matter. After carefully going through the allegations, written statements and personal interviews, the Committee reached the conclusion that there were reasonable grounds to believe that Tunio did abuse his official position while working in the Consular Section.
It was felt that the continued presence of Tunio in the Embassy could bring a bad name to the Embassy and Pakistan, he said adding resultantly, the Ambassador recommended immediate recall of Tunio to the Ministry.
On December, 31, 2014, he said, the Ministry ordered the Additional Assistant to be relieved from his duties and return to Islamabad for further disciplinary action.
However, instead of complying with the Ministry`s repeated instructions, the official absconded from the Embassy and has reportedly sought political asylum in the Netherlands.
He said the Embassy has requested the Dutch Foreign Ministry to assist in sending the former Additional Assistant back to Pakistan. However, the Dutch Foreign Office has conveyed that he can be deported only after the conclusion of his case for political asylum, he added.
He said that no aid or funding of any kind has been channeled through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for any seminary, mosque and charity organization in last five years.
Sartaj Aziz said the government strongly responded to the Indian Prime Minister speech in Dhaka on June 07, 2015.
Responding to another question the advisor said there is no Pakistani passport holder in camps in Bangladesh.
However, he said that Non-Bengalis are living in Bihari Camps established in Bangladesh after the 1971 war.
He said around 170,000 Non-Bengalis were repatriated to Pakistan between 1974 to 1982 while 327 in 1993.
In 2008, a court`s decision in Bangladesh made the Biharis born after March 1971 eligible to be enrolled as voters, he added.
Accordingly they voted, in large number, in the general elections in December 2008 and January 2014. -Reuters
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