The National Assembly was informed on Wednesday that Rs 10950.448 million were provided to the Higher Education Commission (HEC) during the year 2005-2006 under Public Sector Development Plan.
Muhammad Ahmad Mehanti, MNA, asked Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi regarding the amount provided to the HEC during the year 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 under the head of Public Sector Development Plan.
The education minister informed that a sum of Rs 8940.076 million was provided to Higher Education Commission during the year 2004-2005 under the PSDP.
Responding to a question by Yasmeen Rehman, MNA, the education minister said that the government had signed an agreement on Full Bright Scholarship Support Programme in collaboration with the USA with total cost of Rs 7207.023 million.
He said that the programme had been approved by the Ecnec with Higher Education Commission's contribution of Rs 2527.023 million that becomes 35 percent of the total cost and USAID and USEFP contributed Rs 4680 million that is 65 percent of the total cost.
The minister said that the selection of candidates under the first phase of the programme for Ph.D/M.S scholarships at universities in USA was initiated in May, 2005 and 33 candidates had been selected and would join the US universities in September 2006.
Maulana Rehmatullah Khalil, MNA, asked the religious affairs minister regarding the announcement of Haj policy and the criteria for allotment of quota to the Haj touring agencies for the next season.
Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq replied that the plan for Haj-2005 was approved by the cabinet for five years with the authorisation to make adjustment in subsequent years which will be announced shortly.
He said that the criteria for allotment of quota to the private Haj group organisers would be registered for Haj in December 2006, to be finalised by the committee constituted for this purpose.
Yasmeen Rehman, MNA, asked the education minister for number of students granted foreign scholarship for MSc, Ph.D programmes in Information Technology during the year and the names of the universities to which those students were sent for studies.
The minister stated that 103 students were granted foreign scholarship for MSc, Ph.D programmes in Information Technology. Out of that Education ministry recommended 7 students whereas 96 students were nominated by the Higher Education Commission.
Maulana Syed Nasib Ali Shah asked the Religious Affairs Minister to inform the house regarding total number of foreign students studying in 'Deeni Madaris' in Islamabad alongwith the names of the countries.
The minister said that currently 408 foreign students were studying in Pakistan belonging to Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgystan, Maldives, Turkey, Uganda and USA.
Muhammad Safder Shakir, MNA, asked the education minister about any proposal under consideration by the government to upgrade the government schools and colleges in Islamabad during next year.
Javed Ashraf Qazi said that there was a proposal to upgrade 13 schools during the academic year 2006-07.
Replying to a question, Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul-Haq said that the amount collected under the head of Zakat was Rs 4133 million upto April 4 during the current financial year.
Replying to a question by Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali, Industries and Production Minister said that Pakistan Steel Mills earned a profit of Rs 0.54 billion during the period 2005-06.
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