Islamabad - The dual degree under joint programme of COMSATS Institute of Information Technology and Lancaster University should be issued to 3,000 enrolled students as per unanimous decisions of Senate standing committees on science & technology and federal education & trainings.
It was demanded by the representatives of student organisations and affected students during a press conference here at National Press Club on Wednesday. The representatives of enrolled students of Comsats-Lancaster program, Jawwad and Uzair Kiyani while terming dual degree programme one of the useful and effective programs informed that Senate standing committee on science and technology in its two meetings on 27th July and 18th August 2015 had unanimously directed the award of dual degree to all the students enrolled for COMSATS-Lancaster program.
Later one this decision was also endorsed of Senate standing committee on federal education and trainings. But some of the elements are creating hindrances on personal grounds in implementation of recommendations of standing committees. Such practice would close the doors for future collaborations with leading foreign universities in future, he added. They also shared key documents related to the program with the media.
It is important to be mentioned here that the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan Engineering Council have refused to recognise the degrees of the students as the programme was started without the permission of the regulatory bodies.
Central Secretary General Anjuman Tulba Islam (ATI) Rehan Tahir said that during the audit of HEC and higher education sector in year 2014, more than 40 irregularities have been reported in appointment and salary package of HEC executive director, degree attestation fee process, purchase of laptop etc. He said that it was quite misfortunate that in spite of lapse of more than 17 months, for the first time in history of HEC, regular executive director could not be appointed who is also principal accounting officer of more than Rs 70 billion annual budget. He requested Prime Minister of Pakistan, being controlling authority of HEC, to look into matters of HEC.
Secretary Information ATI, Syed Waqar Shah lamented over the increase of 50 percent increase by one of leading federal universities which would discourage the student to equip themselves with higher education. He said that silence of HEC over this important issue is quite condemnable. The President of Pakistan, being Chancellor of federal universities should take notice of this situation.