After PTI, PML-N Govt to reduce HEC budget by over 50%

After PTI, the PML-N led federal government is also mulling over reducing the budget of the High Education Commission (HEC). According to media reports, the federal government has proposed to slash the budget of HEC by 50%.

Previously, the PTI government had allocated Rs65 billion. Now, the newly established federal government wants to reduce it further to Rs30 billion for the fiscal year 2022–23.

It should be noted that the Higher Education Commission had demanded 100 billion rupees to meet the expenditure and successfully complete the research projects currently going on at public sector varsities.

Officials of the HEC have expressed their concerns about the proposed reduction in the budget, stating that it can have severe affects on the higher education in the country. They added that majority of the universities in Pakistan lack the resources to generate funding for annual expenditures.

According to academics, the universities will have no other option but to shut down ongoing development projects, research activities and hiring of new faculty members to meet the expenses. Similarly, students can also face the heat of slashing the budget as the tuition fees will be increased further.

What are your views on this? Share in the comments bar below.