FAPUASA Strongly Opposes Private Bill Curtailing University Autonomy in Pakistan

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 The Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA) has expressed their strong opposition to a recent Private Members’ Bill submitted by three PML-N MNAs, Dr Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Dr Samina Matloob and Zahra Wadood. 

The proposed bill aims to amend the ordinance of the Higher Education Commission (HEC), curtailing the autonomy of universities and empowering the HEC as a policing authority. FAPUASA has condemned the proposed bill, citing its potential to undermine the autonomy of universities, which may negatively impact the quality of higher education in Pakistan.

FAPUASA has demanded that the government focus on improving higher education institutions and provide sufficient funds to universities facing financial crises. The federation has emphasized the pivotal role universities play in developing higher education in Pakistan and urged the government to avoid any move that could weaken their autonomy. As per the 18th Constitutional Amendment, standards in Higher Education fall under the shared dominion of the Federal and provincial governments, and any amendment to the HEC ordinance must be made after consulting with provincial governments.

FAPUASA has suggested that if amendments are necessary, consultation should be made with all relevant stakeholders, including the federation. 

The group has stressed the need for a consultative process and a collaborative approach to ensure the betterment of higher education in Pakistan. The Vice-Chancellor of GC University, Lahore, Dr Asghar Ali Zaidi, has written an open letter to the NA Speaker against the proposed bill.

Sources have claimed that the most inappropriate amendments are those that lay down the Powers and Functions of the Commission in Section 10. The proposed bill encroaches widely upon the domains of the provinces, rendering public-sector institutions of higher learning and research as subordinate bodies, stealing away the autonomy they had been left with. A new clause (z) snatches the power of constituting Search Committee(s) for the appointment of Vice Chancellor(s) of the universities, which hitherto was with provincial commissions. 

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