Islamabad, The Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, has emphasized the importance of aligning higher education with the current economic and global requirements. In a meeting focused on the Higher Education Commission (HEC), he called for the introduction of scholarships in technical and scientific subjects to meet global standards.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the meeting in Islamabad included the Caretaker Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Madad Ali Sindhi, Chairman of the HEC Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, the Secretary of Education, and other senior officials. The Prime Minister received briefings on various aspects of higher education, including student scholarships, university standards, and measures against plagiarism.

The Prime Minister was informed that Pakistan currently has 259 higher education institutions recognized by the HEC, with a notable increase in universities meeting global standards in recent years. More than 20,000 scholarships for PhD studies have been awarded since the inception of the HEC. Additionally, the meeting discussed the mechanisms in place to control plagiarism within the education sector.

During the meeting, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar directed officials to prepare a comprehensive report on the outcomes of government-funded scholarships. He also called for the removal of obstacles faced by Pakistani students studying abroad, particularly regarding the release of scholarships. Emphasizing the importance of human and technical resource development, he advocated for expanding stipend facilities in science and engineering fields.

The meeting also covered the collaboration between academia and industry, with the Prime Minister urging the development of a funding mechanism from the IT and pharmaceutical industries for research purposes. He proposed a joint meeting with all provincial authorities to address education-related issues.

Highlighting the importance of international standard education for national development, the Prime Minister stressed the need for training programs, especially for skilled workers like nurses. He remarked that Pakistan’s workforce is a significant asset and that well-trained manpower could enhance the country’s standing in the international market.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister was briefed on the HEC’s initiatives in the IT sector, including the establishment of state-of-the-art data centers in Lahore and Karachi and the use of advanced computing resources.