Private varsities urge PM to take notice of PHED, PHEC's actions

In a bid to resist the action of Punjab Higher Education Department (HED) and Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) of regularizing the programs and sub-campuses of the private universities, the newly-formed Association of Private Sector Universities of Punjab, mostly owned by media houses, on Saturday demanded Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of actions taken against them by the Punjab HED and PHEC.

Vice Chancellor University of South Asia Mian Imran Masood, while addressing a press conference along with Rector University of Lahore Awais Raoof termed the actions of regulating campuses and programs of private universities by the Punjab HED and the PHEC as interference in their autonomy. They expressed apprehension that it will be difficult for the private universities to continue their operations if this unnecessary interference continues in their administrative affairs. He said private universities are imparting quality education to millions of students.

Imran Masood presented charter of demands in which they demanded formation of special committee for resolution of disputes between the HED and the PHEC. He said special committee should be formed immediately after carrying out a comprehensive assessment of higher education institutions of both public and private sector universities of Pakistan. The committee should be formed with a view to introduce actions required to bring private universities at par with international standards through introduction of best practices.

He also demanded that a coordinating body or commission should be constituted at a provincial level on the lines of Council of Common Interest in order to resolve contentious issues related to higher education. The commission should have a proportionate representation of private sector universities.

They also demanded that Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar and Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar should take immediate action against negative educational policies of the government. Vice Chancellor Lahore Garrison University Maj-Gen Obaid bin Zakaria (retd) was also present on the occasion.