Chairman HEC Dr. Tariq Banuri interacts with the faculty & students of the Education City of Jamshoro at Mehran University

Dr. Tariq Banuri Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan had an interaction with the faculty and students in a session, organized by Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in-collaboration with Mehran University of Engineering and Technology held at the auditorium of U.S. Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) at Mehran University Jamshoro on Monday, September 30, 2019.
The session was chaired by Dr. Tariq Banuri Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan in presence of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Uqaili Vice Chancellor Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Prof. Dr. Fateh Muhammad Burfat Vice Chancellor University of Sindh, Prof. Dr. Beekha Ram Vice Chancellor Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Mujeeb-u-ddin Memon Sahrai Vice Chancellor Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.
In his keynote speech, Dr. Banuri expressed his gratitude for Mehran University in collaborating the talk and thanked everyone for their participation. He said that since HEC was established in 2002; access, quality and relevance were set as key targets and all three areas are continue to be the targets till date. He shared the HEC is taking initiatives in order to address the issues related to quality education, competency, research, academic governance, grants funding and technology transfer. Dr. Banuri revealed the future agenda by sharing innovative steps to emphasis on general and practical competencies along with the disciplinary competency. He emphasized on the market demand of social sciences, natural sciences and humanities as core substance of the undergraduate programs.

He highlighted the importance of research in terms of its social impact and urged universities to report on their progress inclusive of all numbers and outcomes, annually. Dr. Banuri also shared different initiatives taken by HEC including increase in PERN Bandwidth to take affiliated colleges on board, establishment of 100 smart class rooms (in first phase) and the strengthening of HEMIS (Higher Education Management Information System) to provide a robust platform for faculty, students and other relevant stakeholders. “Attestation and applying for the opportunities for research funding, jobs, internships, scholarships and fellowships will be done through hectic-free solution called HEMIS”, he added. He categorically mentioned that the government of Pakistan has imposed a budget cut on HEC and as a result every university in the country is facing 10-20% budget shortfall. However, he assured that the matter is already taken by HEC with the cabinet and endorsed by Honorable Prime Minister. Dr. Banuri also indicated that the provincial governments should also provide supporting resources.
While discussing the various initiative taken by HEC, in present scenario, he apprised all participant that the role of universities’ is to provide quality education to ensure that the future of new generations is secure. “If our students are successful, the country is successful”, he added.
Before that Dr. Muhammad Aslam Uqaili VC Mehran UET Jamshoro welcomed the Honorable Chairman HEC, Vice Chancellors and delegates from University of Sindh Jamshoro, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro and Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.
PVCs, Deans, Directors, Principal Staff, Faculty and Students from all the respective universities participated in the event.