Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Atta-ur-Rahman has admitted that he was being pressurised by the 'politicians' for taking action against substandard and illegal private universities but said HEC was being backed by the federal cabinet and provincial governments.
"There is some pressure on us from certain politicians who don't want us to take any action against substandard and illegal universities in the country. But it's a federal cabinet's decision, endorsed by all provincial governments and they are bound to implement it by February 2007," he told PPI after inaugurating a wing of Center for Molecular Genetics (CMG), University of Karachi here on Saturday.
On the occasion, he inaugurated newly constructed wing of the center, equipped with latest research facilities and equipment and assured CMG Director Dr Nuzhat Ahmed of funds for construction of new building, scientific equipment and vehicles for the CMG KU.
He said HEC was only a supervisory body and it was the responsibility of the provincial governments to implement cabinet's decision, under which universities that had not improved their standard and facilities would be reverted to affiliated college while all illegal universities would be closed down by February 2007.
"We have categorised all public and private universities in Pakistan and are publicising it through local national dailies for the awareness of parents and students," he informed.
Commenting on appointment of vice chancellors at public-sector universities in the country, he said HEC had no intention to take public universities' control from the provinces and intervene into their administrative affairs but it was striving for appointment of VCs through search committees instead of political basis and pressure.
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