Islamabad - In the light of the 18th constitutional amendment, the role of Higher Education Commission (HEC) should be redefined and recommendations of implementation commission regarding higher education sector should be implemented in true letter and spirit.
It was demanded by Dr Kaleemullah Berach, the central secretary general and president Balochistan chapter of federation of all Pakistan universities academic staff association (FAPUASA).
While appreciating the formation of higher education set up by Sindh and Punjab governments, he demanded of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to realise their constitutional obligations and undertake steps for promotion of higher education through expediting the process for establishment of provincial higher education set-ups. As the universities are already under the administrative control of the provincial governments, the provincial governments should also realise their financial responsibilities as well.
He emphasised over provincial government of Balochistan to fulfil its commitments promised in their elections manifesto regarding establishment of provincial HEC.
Reacting to the recent vice chancellors’ meeting at Islamabad, he stated, “Implementation of the 18th constitutional amendment is our moral and constitutional responsibility and it was not the mandate of the HEC management and vice chancellors to criticise it. Parliament is the sole right platform where such debates should held.” He further stated that university faculty as well as civil society would not accept any plot against 18th constitutional amendment.
He was of the view that in the light of 18th constitutional amendment, the federal government should allocate the development funds as per the provincial share prescribed in National Finance Commission (NFC) award. Under the new formula of current NFC Award, approximately 51.74% of shares were directed to Punjab, 24.55% to Sindh, 14.62% to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 9.09% to Balochistan. But unfortunately, in this current higher education budget, smaller provinces had been ignored in development funds and allocation had not been made according to this NFC formula.
He demanded that quotas for provinces and regions for appointments in all grades must be religiously followed and only real natives of Balochistan and other smaller provinces should be considered against the legitimate quotas.
He vowed that FAPUASA as representative body of universities’ faculty would continue its role for promotion of higher education in Pakistan and for the protection legitimate rights of federal units.