The Senate Special Committee on Wednesday directed the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to explain factors, which resulted in lapses of scholarships to Pakistani graduates and undergraduates. The Special Committee of the Senate chaired by Senator Syed Muzafar Hussain Shah took up the matter related to the lapses of various foreign scholarships offered by different countries to Pakistani students.
The committee observed that "there is no co-ordinated effort to facilitate the scholarships on the part of related ministries like Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs Division and Inter-Provincial Co-ordination." The committee recommended that a proper mechanism needed to be evolved and directed the HEC to submit report explaining reasons for lapses of scholarships.
Since the ministries did not provide required information to the committee it deferred final decision till next meeting. However, the committee decided to formulate concrete recommendations in its next meeting after receiving proposals from the relevant ministries. The committee also discussed province-wise break-up and quota for FATA and Gilgit-Baltistan. The meeting was attended by Senator Hidayatullah, Ayesha Raza Farooq, Kareem Ahmed Khawaja, Syed Shibli Faraz and Muhammad Daud Khan Achakzai.