Report: FT Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD — A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Bushra Anjum Butt. Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan, Kamran Murtaza and Khalida Ateeb also attended the meeting.
At the outset, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt recorded strong protest over the continued absence of the Minister and Secretary from committee meetings.
The Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) briefed the committee on degree attestation, issues concerning Al-Khair University and the implementation of the paperless online attestation system.
HEC stated that admissions at Al-Khair University had previously been restricted due to academic irregularities and unauthorized affiliations. The Commission recognized degrees of 64,379 graduates, while 11,515 graduates from affiliated colleges were required to pass a comprehensive examination for degree recognition. The requirement was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2021 and reaffirmed by HEC in its 48th Commission meeting on August 3, 2026.
The committee was informed that HEC’s paperless degree attestation system, operational since May 2026, has processed 73,146 cases involving 139,021 academic documents. Applicants can submit requests online and download e-Attestation Certificates without visiting HEC offices.
Chairperson Anthropology Department at Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr Sadia Abid, briefed the committee on a complaint concerning an alleged student. She stated that no student by the name of Irfan Mahdi was enrolled in the eighth semester and that the complainant had used a pseudonym through email. The department found no verifiable grounds for the allegations, while the concerned students attended the relevant course and appeared in the terminal examination on September 2, 2026. The committee disposed of the matter after being briefed on remedial academic measures.
The committee also reviewed administrative and operational challenges at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology. Members expressed concern over vacant positions in the university’s Senate and Syndicate and stressed the need to complete these bodies to ensure effective administrative and financial decision-making.
On academic exemptions and credit requirements for Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) holders, the committee directed HEC to review the existing policy framework to ensure fair treatment of technical diploma holders.
The committee also examined transport facilities for specially-abled students and working women. Following a briefing by the Capital Development Authority, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt directed CDA to review and re-route specific bus routes to improve accessibility for wheelchair users and persons with disabilities and submit a compliance report.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman HEC, Additional Secretary Ministry of Education, representatives of Quaid-i-Azam University, Al-Khair University, PIMSAT, Federal Urdu University, CDA and other relevant officials.
