Reference the write-up in the 'Education' section of The Nation titled, 'Higher Education No More a Priority", the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would like to clarify that no cuts have been imposed on HEC in the current financial year on the recurring budget of the universities. Due to financial crunch being faced by the country, HEC too has also faced delayed and reduced releases of the budgetary allocations. However, under the able leadership of the Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector, Begum Shehnaz Wazir Ali, the issue of curtailment of funds has continuously been brought to the attention of the concerned quarters. Due to Ms. Wazir Ali's relentless efforts it has been decided by the government of Pakistan that all HEC scholarship holders would continue be funded and funds for this purpose have already been released. Nearly 50% of the HEC development budget has been released todate and efforts are underway to have the remaining amount released. As for the internship programme mentioned by Mr. Latif, it needs to be clarified that it is not an HEC programme. Even so, the government intends to re-launch it very soon. -AAYESHA IKRAM, Deputy Director, Higher Education Commission, Islamabad, via e-mail, March 12.