Islamabad: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training convened its 24th meeting in Islamabad under the Acting Chairmanship of Mahtab Akbar Rashdi. The committee scrutinized the selection process of the International Center for Skills as the implementing partner for a nursing training program and raised concerns about ongoing issues at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the committee sought clarification on the choice of the International Center for Skills for the NCLEX Nursing Training Programme, which aims to prepare Pakistani nurses for international licensure. The committee expressed concerns over the selection of 500 participants without public advertisement, questioning the transparency and merit of the process and directing the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission to provide detailed information on the program’s implementation.

The committee also addressed longstanding administrative and faculty issues at the Federal Urdu University, noting financial constraints leading to salary and pension delays. It urged the university’s leadership to engage with relevant authorities for financial support and warned that inaction could worsen institutional instability. A detailed response from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training was requested to address these issues comprehensively.

Additionally, the committee received a briefing on the Inter Board Coordination Commission’s equivalence system for Cambridge qualifications and its regulatory framework for foreign Qualification Awarding Bodies in Pakistan. The briefing outlined the process for grade conversion and highlighted 15 regulatory standards for foreign QABs. The Regulatory Committee recommended the registration of Cambridge International Education as a Qualification Awarding Body, conditional on compliance with IBCC regulations.

The meeting included participation from various members of the National Assembly, officials from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, and representatives from the Higher Education Commission.