Tough challenges
May 12, 2021
Universities in Pakistan have suffered greatly in the last three years because of the misguided policies of the Higher Education Commission and the failure of its leadership to convince the government to provide proper and reasonable funding.
The operational budget of the HEC has remained frozen since 2017, causing huge damage to the higher education sector. It was Rs63.18 bln in 2017-18, Rs65.02 bln in 2018-19, Rs64.10 bln 2019-20 and Rs64.10 bln in 2020-21. The grant per student enrolled has collapsed in dollar terms, which is relevant as research students spend most of the university funds for imported chemicals, solvents and equipment. It was $782 in the year 2013-14, but is now only $413 per student after seven years, although inflation and other factors should have led to its doubling in this seven-year period to about $1600 per student.
A future of knowledge
December 16, 2020
Pakistan’s future lies in developing a strong knowledge economy based on excellence in education, science, technology and innovation/entrepreneurship so that we can migrate from the traps of a low value agricultural economy to a strong ‘Knowledge Economy’.
A knowledge economy requires the production of goods and services to be based on knowledge-intensive activities, utilising the remarkable advancements in technical and scientific innovations. We need to develop a highly skilled workforce and introduce policies to utilise this work force towards setting up major industries for the manufacture and export of high technology products. That is the secret of the rapid developments of countries such as Singapore, Korea and China.