News Detail
Event Title: Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, Chairperson Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training presiding over a meeting of the committee at Parliament House Islamabad
Event Date: 2026-09-21
Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training Addresses Higher Education Reforms, Student Grievances, and Accessibility Needs of Specially-Abled
A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training was held at Parliament House, Islamabad, chaired by Senator Bushra Anjum Butt and attended by Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan, Kamran Murtaza, and Khalida Ateeb. At the outset, the Chairperson formally recorded a strong protest over the continuous absence of the Minister and Secretary from committee meetings.
The Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) provided a comprehensive briefing detailing the degree attestation process, the status of cases involving Al-Khair University, and the implementation of its paperless attestation system.
Due to persistent academic irregularities, unauthorized franchising, and substandard education, HEC had previously suspended operations at Al-Khair University, limiting admissions strictly to its principal seat at Bhimber from October 17, 2011, before permanently suspending admissions in Fall 2016. While HEC recognized the degrees of 64,379 graduates, it mandated that 11,515 graduates from affiliated colleges pass a comprehensive test for degree recognition—a safeguard upheld by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on May 5, 2021. In its 48th Commission meeting on August 3, 2026, HEC formally reaffirmed this decision, rejecting any relaxation of standard safeguards and maintaining the requirement for unauthorized campus/affiliated college students to clear the examination. Moreover, HEC highlighted the rollout of its paperless online degree attestation system, operational since May 2026. The digital platform has processed 73,146 attestation cases involving 139,021 academic documents. The system enables applicants to submit requests online at any time without submitting physical documents or visiting HEC offices, allowing them to download e-Attestation Certificates directly from their dashboard.
The Chairperson of Anthropology Department Dr Sadia Abid.(QAU ) clarified that no student named Irfan Mahdi is enrolled in the 8th semester, as the complainant used a pseudonym via email, preventing the establishment of identity or a formal grievance. Registered students regularly attended the "Economic Anthropology" course, gave positive feedback, and successfully took the terminal exam on September 2, 2026. The Departmental Committee found no verifiable grounds for the claims and requested that the Vice Chancellor report the email address to the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to hold those behind the malicious campaign accountable. The representative also confirmed that 48 hours of make-up work and a 14-day sequence of continuous classes were conducted to fulfill course requirements. The committee appreciated these remedial steps and successfully disposed of the matter.
The committee examined operational and administrative challenges at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science & Technology (FUUAST). Discussions highlighted that missing appointments to the Senate and Syndicate have hindered overall university operations and financial decision-making. The committee expressed concern over governance gaps, noting the urgency of completing the Syndicate and Senate bodies to restore functional decision-making.
Regarding academic exemptions for Diploma of Associate Engineer (DAE) holders, the HEC Chairman briefed the committee on current credit requirements. The committee directed HEC to re-evaluate the policy framework governing DAE academic equivalencies to ensure fair treatment for technical diploma holders within existing statutory powers.
The committee evaluated transport facilities for specially-abled students and working ladies. Following a briefing by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding accessible buses with designated seating, the Chairperson directed CDA to re-examine and re-route specific bus routes to better serve wheelchair users and persons with disabilities, requesting an updated compliance report back to the committee at its earliest.
The committee was attended and briefed by the Chairman HEC, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Chairperson Anthropology Department QAU, representatives from Al-Khair, PIMSAT, Federal Urdu University, CDA, and all relevant officialsa