KARACHI (Staff Reporter): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has enhanced 58 seats for the students of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit Baltistan in the public sector universities of the province. He took this decision while presiding over a meeting of the University & Boards department here at the CM House.
The meeting was attended by Advisor Law Murtaza Wahab, Secretary Universities & Board Alamuddin Bullo, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro and others.The chief minister was told that there were 25 public sector universities in Sindh, including medical, engineering and general where AJK and Gilgit Baltistan have 162 seats.Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, in principle, decided to increase Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan seats in the public sector universities of the province.
The PMDC and Higher Education Commission has granted permission for enhancement of 58 seats in the nine public sector universities of the province while the permission for the remaining 16 universities are in the process.
Presently, AJK and GB have two seats each in University of Jamshoro, three seats each in NED university, two each in Mehran university of engineering, 10 each in Dawood university, two each in Shah Latif university Khairpur. AJK has seven seats in Agriculture university, Tando Jam and Gilgit Baltistan has four seats and they have 34 combined seats in University of Karachi.After the fresh approval of Sindh Chief Minister, now AJK will have four more seats and GB 11 more seats in Sindh University, five each in NED, three each in Dow University, 13 each in Dawood engineering university, one each in PMC Shaheed Benazirabad, four each in Shah Latif university, Khairpur. In Mehran University AJK will have five more seats and GB four seats.
Similarly, AJK will have seven seats and GB eight more seats in Agriculture university TandoJam. They will also have 50 combined seats in Karachi University. The chief minister congratulated the people of AJK and GB on the enhancement of their seats in the public universities of Sindh and hoped they would take its full benefit.
CM meets fed HEC chairmanSindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said that the provincial government would be conducting monitoring and evaluation of the universities working under its charter while accreditation would lie with the federal Higher Education Commission (HEC).
“However, a joint work plan may be drafted jointly by the provincial governments and HEC which would be floated in the Council of Common Interest (CCI) for approval.
This he said while talking to Chairman HEC Dr Tariq Banuri who accompanied by Dr Fateh Marri Member (O&P) HEC calle don him here at CM House.
The meeting was attended by PSCM Sajid jamal Abro, Secretary U&B Alamauddin Bullo, Adl Secretary U&B Moinuddin Siddiqui and Adl secretary to CM Badaruddin Shaikh.
The chief minister said that after 18thamendment the provinces have established their provincial higher education commissions.
He added that the federal government has its own HEC, therefore bifurcation of work and roles needed to be ascertained.
“The task of Monitoring and Evaluation of the universities lie with the provincial government and Accreditation was the authority of the federal HEC,” he said and proposed to prepare a joint work plan by Fed HEC and provincial HECs and provincial University & Boards departments so that bifurcation of the work, assignments and authority could be defined.
The work plan would be presented in the CCI for its approval, he said.Mr Shah said that the provincial government wanted the Fed and provincial HECs to improve the quality of education.The chairman appreciated the chief minister for his interest to find out a workable solution of the deadlock between the two HECs, provincial and federal.
