ISLAMABAD
The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, convened a critical session at Parliament House to address alarming issues in Pakistan’s education sector, including unregulated university establishments, financial misappropriations, violation of merit, and fee exploitation by private institutions.
During deliberations on the Private Member’s Bill titled “The University of Business, Sciences and Technology Bill, 2025,” the Committee was informed that the mover had not yet applied through the Higher Education Commission (HEC), raising legal and procedural concerns.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt expressed strong reservations, stating the Committee would not approve any bill that compromises the future of students or bypasses legal prerequisites. The matter was deferred for further deliberation.
The Committee also reviewed protests by 85 faculty and staff members at the Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design (PIFD) against alleged illegal appointments by the Vice-Chancellor. Chairperson Butt declared universities were not family businesses and directed submission of all appointment records from the last four years.
The Chairperson also condemned uncontrolled fee hikes by private schools, directing compliance with the PIERA Fee Determination Policy, which allows a maximum 5% increase, and up to 8% for high-performing institutions. She demanded a list of institutions, including City School and Roots International, charging up to Rs. 50,000.
Serious allegations surfaced against former PEIRA Chairperson Ms. Zia Batool, accused of drawing dual salaries from PEIRA and PSQCA, and misappropriating funds worth Rs. 2 billion. Ms. Batool denied all allegations. The Chairperson recommended an impartial third-party investigation to resolve the dispute.
The Committee was also briefed on the financial crisis at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences & Technology (FUUAST), which faces Rs. 1.246 billion in unpaid liabilities, including salaries, pensions, and house rent ceilings. Despite HEC’s support of Rs. 1.1 billion last fiscal year, the ECC did not approve a proposed Rs. 800 million supplementary grant. The Chairperson directed the Education Minister to appear in the next meeting with a permanent solution.
Reviewing HEC’s Help Desk performance and attestation system, Senator Butt criticized its inefficiency and demanded action against unauthorized universities, including PIMSAT Karachi, which submitted 24,887 records from illegal campuses. An HEC verification visit is scheduled for October 10, 2025.
The Committee was also briefed on Pakistan’s first Climate Change Curriculum (Grades 1–10), developed by the Teachers’ Resource Centre (TRC). The curriculum covers five core themes—environment awareness, biodiversity, natural disasters, sustainable living, and environmental justice. The matter was deferred for further deliberation due to procedural overlaps.
The meeting was attended by Senator Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator Rahat Jamali, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Senator Naseema Ehsan and Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan.
