As a professional, he said, there is a balance between the powers of PHEC and HEC, however, he apprehended that all the provincial HECs would not acknowledge each others' degrees in future if the institutions fail to work within their parameters. Therefore, he said they need to discuss a proper mechanism in this regard. He also hoped that issues regarding exercise of powers of both the institutions will be resolved amicably.
"Today provinces are setting up their own HECs. Similarly, they will also set up their own accreditation councils like Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Engineering Council and others," Mukhtar said with concern. The HEC Chairman was talking to education reporters through video link at HEC Lahore office.
He said after joining the HEC, he always tried to create an atmosphere of national integration, adding that the matter of devolution of federal organizations after 18th amendment will be settled by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). He termed the recently-issued report on the state of education in Pakistan by the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association (FAPUASA) as baseless which alleges that budget of the HEC has lapsed.
Replying to another question regarding budget approval, Dr Mukhtar said it was not approved by the HEC Board due to lack of quorum as nine board members' seats are still vacant. However, HEC's Act authorizes the Chairman to approve the budget himself in such a situation. In a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, he requested him to appoint the Board members of HEC at the earliest, he added.
When asked about the ending of two year degree programme, Dr Mukhtar said it was decided in 2005 by the HEC to bring Pakistan's higher education at par with international standards, so four-year graduation degree programmes were launched in universities across the country. "Now all other provinces including Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have aborted two-year bachelor's programme but Punjab is reluctant to implement the same," he added.