Defying the austerity measures of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has hired 10 consultants on higher salaries, reliable sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday.

According to the sources, the Commission is hiring around 10 consultants against BPS 21 and Rs3 to Rs4 lac per month besides other perks and privileges which includes luxury car, TADA and other BPS 21 facilities.

The sources further told that already more than 800 employees besides a number of advisors and nine Director Generals (DGs) are working in the HEC. The purpose of hiring of 10 consultants is nothing than obliging friends. The sources said consultants are being hired for the first time in 15-year history of the commission.

It is pertinent to mention here that the HEC had asked universities for austerity measures after the current PTI government had announced budget cuts in the HEC budget. The decision affected 194 universities across the country and it was widely criticized by the academicians.

According to the sources, the hiring of these consultants is illegal as per Act of HEC according to which no person other than HEC Chairman and Executive Director can be member of the HEC. The act further says that all the employees should be hired as per the rules and regulations of federal government. However, these consultants are being hired on temporary basis.

Chairman HEC Dr Tariq Banuri said that all these consultants were hired after the approval of Commission and these hiring's have been made on temporary basis.